Unite welcomes ‘third sector’ minister’s assurance on funding
timetable
15th March 2010
Assurances by third sector minister, Angela Smith, to look again
at how funding contracts are administered have been welcomed by
Unite, the largest union in the country.
The minister’s statement came during a lobby of Unite Not for
Profit sector activists who are under increasing pressure in the
workplace due to the short term nature of the contracts awarded to
voluntary sector organisations.
Rachael Maskell, Unite’s national officer, not for profit
sector, welcomed ”the very positive response” from Angela Smith in
agreeing to explore, on receipt of further information from
Unite:
- the information requested from commissioners i.e. auditing and
reporting requirements, to see if greater consistency would assist
organisations and staff;
- issues relating to the workforce, which impact on the
well-being of staff, from management practices to tackling stress
at work.
Rachael Maskell said: ”We wish to work closely with the minister to
bring greater stability in terms of funding to the sector, which,
in turn, will alleviate the enormous strains our members are facing
in terms of pay cuts/freezes, excessive working hours and anxieties
about their financial future.”
A recent survey by Unite revealed more than 90 per cent of
voluntary sector staff feel their well-being is being undermined
due to the financial crisis facing charities.
The survey showed that the way contracts are awarded in the
voluntary sector – short term with the emphasis on cost-cutting –
is having a detrimental effect on the sector’s 750,000 employees
and the services they deliver to clients and service users.
MPs are being asked to sign an
Early Day Motion supporting Unite’s campaign on the funding and
workforce issues.
ENDS
Email to a friend
