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STUC 2012

 

 


A broken economy leads to a broken society – there is a better way

Lilian Macer
Lilian Macer
Brenda Aitchison
Brenda Aitchison

The thrust of the STUC’s ‘There is a Better Way” campaign was underlined as the Congress in Inverness committed to pushing for policies that would rebuild the economy, create growth and demand, abandon cuts and ‘genuinely’ tackle tax evation.

A 10 point plan laid out alternatives to the failed austerity measures called for the ‘key drivers’ of growth and wealth to be taken back into public ownership and included:-

- Working with partners on manufacturing strategies
- Genuine reform of the financial sector
- Green investment banks
- Transport and infrastructure investment
- Procurement that boosts employment standards and local jobs

Moving the motion for the General Council, UNISON Scotland Convener Lilian Macer said: "We have been proved right. The ConDems have been proved wrong. They said austerity would improve confidence and boost jobs and growth. We said austerity was avoidable, unfair and regressive", as she listed the failures from a double-dip recession to public service cuts undermining jobs and investment in the private sector, unemployment and disgraceful youth unemployment.

"All these factors have been caused or exacerbated by austerity", said Lilian.

UNISON’s Brenda Aitchison told Congress, “A broken economy leads to a broken society. The ConDem austerity cuts do not affect Cameron, Clegg and Osborne and their millionaire pals… they happen to someone else, to their communities, their children… The ConDem’s are devoid of empathy”

“But their economic Plan A isn’t working, just like we told them!”

Brenda highlighted the campaign in Renfrewshire by UNISON, EIS and NUS to fight back against Scottish Government cuts in Further Education. “Education lifts people out of poverty and is life enhancing economically and culturally… it should be properly funded and resourced.”

So how do we fund a fairer society? Through companies and individuals ‘paying their share’, said Brenda. Big companies were sitting on record amounts of money that they were refusing to invest.

“The gap between rich and poor continues to widen and we must address this. This composite is a blueprint for a better way”.

 

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