Union reports membership surge

Public services union UNISON has announced a significant rise in membership, even ahead of a planned recruitment campaign. Some 90,000 people have joined up to May this year, a quarter up on the same period last year.

Launched this week, the new recruitment push will feature a 60-second advert being shown on Sky, ITV, Channel 4 and YouTube.

UNISON reports that one sector where growth has been marked is among school support staff, with recruitment in May among those working in education being over four times higher (308%) than the equivalent month in 2019. There has also been a marked increase of 135% in social care membership.

UNISON assistant general secretary Liz Snape said: “During the pandemic, thousands of people working in the NHS, social care, schools, police forces and local government have been joining UNISON. They realise it makes sense in troubled times to have somewhere to turn that has their best interests at heart.”

https://www.unison.org.uk/news/2020/06/huge-membership-rise-unison-ahead-new-recruitment-ad-campaign-launch%e2%80%8b