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"We want a Parliament that is positive about Scotland's public services" - Matt Smith


"We are already setting up meetings with the main political parties on this to let them know what our concerns are" - Mike Kirby

 

UNISON Scotland launched a £100,000 campaign to support Scottish public services in the run up to the Scottish Parliamentary elections.

"This will be a positive campaign, raising the issues that concern both UNISON members and the general public, without fear or favour of any party political self-interest. We want a Parliament that is positive about Scotland's public services", said Matt Smith, UNISON Scottish Secretary at the time.

The campaign, funded by the union's General Political Fund set up to campaign for UNISON policies, was not be used to campaign for or against any political party. It stressed three main principles:

+ Giving people a say in their services
+ Choosing quality services
+ Choosing teamwork

It highlighted UNISON policies in favour of public services that are:

  • publicly owned and run, rather than owned and run by private consortia set up under PFI proposals;
  • democratically controlled rather than hived off to quangos and other non-democratic bodies such as happened to Scotland's water and is proposed for some housing;
  • and properly resourced to ensure a proper quality of service.

A manifesto for public services is the keystone of the campaign

Mike Kirby, UNISON's Scottish Convenor, stressed that no political group woulf be allowed to use this campaign to gain political preferrment.

"We are already setting up meetings with the main political parties on this to let them know what our concerns are, and we will be telling them that our 150,000 members will be looking closely at their policies before they vote."

UNISON has two Political Funds, The General Political Fund which funds political campaigns which do not argue for or against political parties; and the Affiliated Political Fund that funds campaigning on behalf of the Labour Party.

"Of course there will be some areas of difference between our policies and those of the Government. " He said. "But this campaign is not about supporting or opposing individual candidates or parties. In fact both campaigns will be very similar in general policy terms - they will be arguing for UNISON policies."

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