UNISONActive is an unofficial blog produced by UNISON activists for UNISON activists. Bringing news, briefings and events from a progressive left perspective.

Monday 28 September 2009

UNISON raises the banner of public services at Labour conference

This week in Brighton UNISON will be calling on Labour to protect public services and to not give in to pressure for spending cuts. The union's contemporary resolution states that ‘the Conservative Party is pushing for service reductions and more privatisation. For Labour to win back the support of core voters it needs to demonstrate that, by contrast, it will protect public services that are fundamental to advancing economic recovery and a fairer society’ http://www.unison.org.uk/asppresspack/pressrelease_view.asp?id=1586

UNISON’s concerns were echoed by Ed Miliband in his keynote speech introducing conference presentations on strategy for the next general election:‘And they have a completely different view of public services aswell. A Tory council has even given it a name: the Ryanair model of public services: lots and lots of queuing and waiting, a bare minimum service for the many while the few get to pay their way. That’s the choice we’ve got to lay before people:

The Ryanair model may be an okay way to run an airline but it is no way to run a hospital, a care home, or any of our public services.’ http://www.labour.org.uk/ed-miliband-speech-conference

At the end of the Sunday afternoon’s conference session results were announced of the priorities ballots held separately for CLP’s and affiliated unions. UNISON’s contemporary resolution on public services topped the CLP’s poll and was one of four selected by the unions along with employment rights, manufacturing and school meals.

Although the resolution on the future of Royal Mail was squeezed outin both sections, conference will have the opportunity to reiterate Labour policy of opposing privatisation postal services in any form and to express solidarity with CWU members currently balloting for national industrial action. A CWU emergency motion has been accepted by the conference arrangements committee. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/8277757.stm