1 January 2009

New Year message from Matt Smith, UNISON Scottsh Secretary

To all UNISONScotland Branch Activists and Staff.

Dear Colleague,

At New Year it is traditional to look forward with hope, to identify opportunities and challenges ahead and to reaffirm our commitment to the work our members do, and to the policies that we in UNISONScotland promote.

At this time of economic downturn, it is ever more important that we stress the essential work our members do and outline the key role of public services in protecting the vulnerable, providing the essential infrastructure and leading the way out of the economic gloom created by the unrestrained and irresponsible actions of financiers and others who direct global capital.

That these same people - having demanded that the public sector to bail them out - now choose to attack our public services, those who deliver them and those who depend on them means that UNISON needs to speak up clearly for our members and their work. Some have been queuing up to try and ensure that Scotland’s public services, those who rely on them and especially those who work in them, are penalised for the failures of the private sector. Their attack on the minimum wage, and the constant demand to privatise our public water supply are particularly despicable. UNISONScotland intends to provide the leadership in defending and advancing the case for our public services in the coming year.

UNISON does not forget that our members provide emergency cover whilst most of us enjoy a break at this holiday time. They provide essential care in homes and in the community, for those who cannot care for themselves, and they ensure our essential services - water, energy, safety, roads - continue to function over this period. This work - along with other essential public services - is too often ignored or dismissed.

Our public services also provide an effective and safe infrastructure for the private sector to use. Whether this means cleansing, utilities, transport networks, education and training, health and safety or many other, this infrastructure will be essential if our damaged economy is to return to any healthy state.

Our public services are very often crucial in ordering goods and services to stimulate demand- especially in parts of the country that have been forsaken by the private sector. Indeed when private financiers refuse to invest it is the public sector that provides that essential capital.

This is why a healthy public service sector is essential in paving our way out of the economic downturn. The public sector is an essential driver for economic growth.

Of course, in order for these services to deliver as effectively as they should, we need to ensure that those providing the services are properly trained and resourced, that they are all treated fairly and equally, and that there are enough employed to cover the services. In doing this we will take no lessons from the people who seek to undermine and degrade the conditions and pay of their own private sector workforce, whilst ensuring that their own pay, bonuses and gold-plated pensions are protected.

We will lose no opportunity to make these arguments clear in the coming year, to stand up for our members and the services they provide. Please join with us in defending and advancing our public services, please feel free to circulate this letter to all your activists and members and to use, if helpful, in recruiting non-members to UNISON.

Please accept my thanks for the work you have already done on their behalf, and my best wishes for you, your families and friends for the year ahead.

Sincerely yours,
Matt Smith
Scottish Secretary
14, West Campbell Street,
Glasgow, G2 6RX
T 0845 355 0845
matt.smith@unison.co.uk
www.unison-scotland.org.uk

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