Carol Ball

Congress condemned the rising levels of child poverty in Scotland and across the UK as a result of the UK Government’s austerity measures.

Campaigning for an end to child poverty by 2020 will be a key plank of the STUC’s “Better Way Campaign,” through a range of measures including political lobbying for more social housing and a living wage for all.

UNISON’s Carol Ball told Congress that UNISON has been active in highlighting that child poverty would worsen under this Tory/LibDem Government and it is now clear that this has come to pass, with one in four children living in poverty and an expected rise of 400,000 by 2015.

“As inequality grows, it is our children and other vulnerable groups who suffer whilst the richest 1% are protected and grow ever richer,” warned Carol, condemning the recent budget which did nothing to help poorer families. “They should be ashamed of themselves, these cabinet millionaires!”

“History shows us that cuts to public services impact disproportionately on our children, and planned changes to benefits under the Welfare Reform Act will make a lot of poor families very much poorer.”

But she warned that 59% of children in severe poverty live in households where at least one adult works. “Some will be the children of our low paid members,” said Carol, calling for a living wage for all.

“Congress, make no mistake, this is about the kind of society we want to live in – one that protects the wealth and opportunity of the privileged few, or one that prioritises the health, well-being and life chances of all our children.”