UNISON General Secretary 'Gets Active' in the South West

UNISON General Secretary, Dave Prentis, will be joining union members and activists as the key note speaker at a rally on Friday 27 January, which is part of UNISON South West's 'Get Active' weekend.

The event is being held in Taunton and is part of UNISON South West's Regional Council.  It follows the success of its introduction in March 2011 and the November 2011's Day of Action over public sector pensions, which saw a turnout of tens of thousands of union members across the South West.

Dave Prentis, UNISON General Secretary said:  "I was really impressed by the South West members' resilience and fortitude of in the face of adversity, when they turned out in force in November to show their anger against the needless attack on them and their pensions.  When I meet them at the rally I intend to tell them that whilst our struggle to save public services, their jobs, their terms and conditions and pensions continues, I also intend to congratulate and thank them for their hard work and determination over the last year which resulted in the Government coming back to the table to renegotiate and improve their original proposals to cut their pensions."

Joanne Kaye, UNISON South West Regional Secretary, who will also be addressing the rally, said:

"This time last year we were getting ready for the fight of our lives to defend our members' pensions.  In November our members joined thousands of other union members across the South West in wide-spread demonstration against the planned cuts to their pensions.  The last year has seen our members struggling to cope with job losses and frozen or reduced pay, so 30 November was an enormously proud day for UNISON as our members came out en masse and joined forces with other unions to continue the battle against cuts in public services and their terms and conditions.

"Last year's event, with former Labour MP and Cabinet Minister Tony Benn, proved popular and inspiring.  The event this year, this Get Active weekend with the training sessions and rally, will give our members an opportunity to refocus and help develop new skills needed to continue campaigning, as well as re energise them for the continuing struggle to save our valuable public services."

The 'Get Active' event, spanning two days, Friday 27 and Saturday 28 January, will be held at Somerset College in Taunton for the second year running.  As well as the rally there will be a series of training sessions focusing on campaigning, organising and equality along with two panel discussions looking at cuts and, after the pension Day of Action on 30 November, what happens next.

As well as the key note speakers, rally goers will be entertained by lyrically led pop folk singer, Gracie Petrie**, who was handpicked by Billy Bragg to appear alongside him at Glastobury and hailed as the voice of a new generation by listeners and critics.  UNISON's own Rosie MacGregor and her Songs of Dissent workshop choir will also be singing at the rally.

ENDS

Notes to Editor

Dave Prentis is the General Secretary of UNISON, the UK's largest Public Sector trade union, with over 1.3 million members. 

For further information contact:

Joanne Kaye, Regional Secretary, UNISON South West c/o 01823 285318

If you wish to attend, arrange an interview or find out more about the event, please contact Jenn Gollings c/o 01823 285318

Issued:  Monday 23 January 2012