National Delegate Conference 17-20 June
2008
Public services, publicly owned, with public investment and democratically
controlled
Jane Carolan
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Duncan Smith
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Sam McCartney
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UNISON pledged to campaign around an alternative agenda for public
services as the necessary foundation of a fair, cohesive, democratic
and prosperous society.
UNISON's Positively Public campaign will be accelerated to all
levels of Government for public services, publicly owned, with public
investment and democratically controlled.
Jane Carolan, NEC, pointed out that in 1993 Glasgow was at the
National Delegate Conference rostrum warning of the danger of Tory
Private Finance Initiative (PFI) plans. Fifteen years later and
the same dangers are present.
"We have so called efficiency savings that we all know mean cuts.We
have reforms that mean jobs are transferred from the public sector
to the private with our members struggling to maintain their pay
and terms and conditions, struggling to stay in a job at all.This
Government has bought the myth of markets and the private sector
hook, line and sinker.”
Jane explained that there was a £74 bn public services market in
UK and some 700,000 people employed by private, community and voluntary
sectors and that by 2030 we will be paying £198bn for current PFI
contracts for buildings and equipment, over three times their value.
"What a total waste of public money.”
"It isn't just that private services cost more. Privatisation means
service failures. Privatisation leads to fewer jobs, worse pay,
worse conditions. PFI inflexibilities in trust up and down the country
mean that there is pressure on jobs, working conditions and pay."
Sam McCartney, Glasgow City said "My Council is a Labour lead
council who are hell bent on removing services outwith council tax
payers' control and in many areas of the service this has already
been enforced.This is not a social or moral agenda just another
form of privatization. It would be better if we could stop this
process in its track and I know some attempts have been made to
try but we must as a union be able to look after members who are
already in this position.”
Duncan Smith, Edinburgh City, reported of his branch's success
in making links with local activists over a local schools programme.
"We fought to stop schools being closed in some of the most deprived
areas.”
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