UNEMPLOYMENT FIGURES – UNISON RESPONSE
UNEMPLOYMENT FIGURES – UNISON RESPONSE
UNISON, the UK’s largest union, today (15 Dec) warned that the dole queues would continue to grow through the New Year, as the latest figures proved that the government’s economic policies are not working.
The union reiterated its call for a fairer recovery package, which must include making the banks pay their fair share, and cutting down on the tax loopholes and tax havens.
Dave Prentis, UNISON General Secretary, said:
“The government’s policies are clearly not working. The private sector is not coming to the rescue. Behind these figures are families struggling to get by, landed with a bitter blow of unemployment – some Christmas present from this government.
“And worse is still to come, when the hundreds of thousands of job losses in the public sector – particularly in local government – start hitting home.
“There is another way, but the government is ideologically driven to cut back on our public services, whatever the consequences.”
UNISON has been campaigning for an alternative way of dealing with the crisis, which involves a fairer way of paying off the debt. For example, £30 billion could be raised by imposing a Robin Hood Tax on the banks, and £10 billion could be raised by reforming tax havens and residence rules to reduce tax avoidance by corporations and non-domiciled residents.
ENDS
Unemployment in the regions between August and October was:
Region Total unemployed Change on quarter Unemployment rate
North East 124,000 plus 6,000 9.7%
North West 279,000 plus 2,000 8.1%
Yorkshire/Humber 244,000 plus 1,000 9.3%
East Midlands 188,000 plus 19,000 8.2%
West Midlands 238,000 plus 12,000 8.9%
East 202,000 minus 2,000 6.7%
London 376,000 minus 4,000 9.1%
South East 276,000 plus 3,000 6.2%
South West 154,000 minus 8,000 5.7%
Wales 125,000 plus 4,000 8.6%
Scotland 234,000 minus 5,000 8.7%
N Ireland 63,000 plus 6,000 7.6%
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