Unemployment figures - UNISON response

As unemployment reaches its highest level in 17 years, UNISON, the UK’s largest union, is calling on the government to ditch plan A and act quickly to get our recovery on track. The union has been campaigning for an alternative economic plan that includes taxing bank bonuses and transactions, using cash raised to protect jobs, and stimulate growth and recovery. Dave Prentis, UNISON General Secretary, said: “Here is yet more proof that this government’s policies are wrong for the economy. Our recovery is not even off the starting blocks, and the toll of job losses keeps on mounting.“Today’s figures show that young people are paying a heavy price for the bankers’ recession – the government must act to give them hope for the future. Long-term unemployed figures are also climbing – to be out of work for more than 12 months has a huge impact on people and their families. “The government must put a stop to public sector job losses – they are hitting the private sector, and our chances of recovery, hard. There are fair alternatives – such as getting the banks to pay their fair share, introducing a small (0.05%) tax on financial transactions, and raise billions that can be used to stimulate growth and recovery – and give hardworking people back some hope.”