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