Local Government Service Group Conference 13-14 June 2010

Campaign against shared services to protect jobs and services

Conference recognised the serious threat that shared services pose to members in Local Government and fears that this will worsen as budget cuts bite.

The Service Group Executive will continue a range of supports for branches to campaign against shared services and encourage branches to work together across service groups and with other unions to mount campaigns to keep services in house.

Speaking on behalf of the SGE, Scotland's Barbara Fulton warned that shared services must be seen as both a risk, but also a fall-back position.

"They can threaten compulsory redundancies and privatisation, but they can be used in a way that departments in the public sector can work together. We have to look at each proposal and fight for the bottom line of keeping services in-house and avoiding compulsory redundancies," said Barbara.

She told Conference of successes for the union, where Local Government branches have fought and won campaigns against shared services, including the Dumfries and Galloway branch who used the equality duties to stop the employer in its tracks.

She promised training and support for branches on finance and procurement and community campaigning and expert advice on analysing business cases. "We must influence employers to protect our members and services."

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