National Delegate Conference 16-19 June 2008

Procurement: Get in early to protect members

Mike Kirby

While fighting to keep services in house, UNISON Regions and Branches will also get involved in commissioning and procured processes at an early stage to try to protect jobs and services.

Branches are also being urged to work together to co-ordinate their response to large scale outsourcing.

"It is crucial that branches intervene as early as possible to secure commitments on procurement policy", said Mike Kirby, Scottish Convener.

He urged delegates to "use the UNISON procurement and guidance notes, join the procurement network and use the dedicated procurement webpage. It's coming to your employer soon!"

Mike told delegates of the nine partnerships and trading companies in Glasgow covering a range of essential public services.

"It's a move which would have had Thatcher and Nicholas Ridley swooning with delight at the idea of his 'enabling authority' coming alive", said Mike.

When you remove these services from direct councillor control and scrutiny you get private investment for private profit.

"The farce of GHA Ltd awarding a £37m contract for housing repairs and maintenance to a private company Connaught which could not meet the contract specifications on key workforce conditions", added Mike.

"On leaving the city the UK MD of Connaught was reported as saying that Glasgow was a hostile place for private money.

"Glasgow workers said that if the price of private investment was their right to a pension then it was too high a price to pay".

"These services are delivered by staff, not structures… public service workers are people not 'human capital'.They should be more closely involved in any change process. In their 'crusade' to modernise public services, New Labour have given vast amounts of taxpayers' money to management and IT systems consultants. "They are everywhere", said Mike, "Defence, Education, Inland Revenue, the Health Service".

"Do these wizards give us schools and hospitals that will be the envy of the world. Or are they just lucky recipients of billions that should have been spent on frontline services", added Mike.

top