Social worker is new Unison chief

A former social worker has been appointed as
Unison’s national secretary for local government.

Heather Wakefield will replace
Malcolm Wing after next month’s national conference. “My aim is to
put local government back on the public sector map. My priorities
are to close the gender pay gap and tackle low pay in low
government,” she said.

Wakefield has been appointed on a
12-month contract while Wing takes on a national position. Before
joining the union, Wakefield had worked as a social worker and was
women’s rights officer at the National Council for Civil Liberties
(now Liberty).