UNISON's 'Public Works' campaign - we all need to do our
bit to defend public service jobs and services
UNISON Scotland has launched its 'Public Works' campaign
with the message that public service cuts will increase
costs for ordinary families and will delay economic recovery.
'Public Works' is the Scottish arm of the union's 'Million
Voices for Change' campaign. And branches and members
need to play their part in getting the message over.
UNISON has warned that the headlong rush to cut and privatise
public services will lead to delays in coming out of recession
It has produced a leaflet demonstrating the importance
of public services to everyone's lives and pointing to
the huge costs that would fall on people if public services
were not available.
Matt Smith - UNISON's Scottish Secretary, said "'A
day in the life...' follows an average woman through
her day and points out our dependence on public services
- from water and sewerage, through environmental health
and refuse collection, to education and health care.
"It points out that all of us rely on public services,
not just the most vulnerable, for whom they can be a lifeline."
What can you do?
Matt Smith added, "We are keen to involve members in
this campaign. After all we are both the front-line providers
of public services and the users of public services. Who
knows their importance and their value better that us?"
"We are asking you all to sign up individually to the
"Million
Voices" campaign at national level. We would also
like you to tell us what you do in your job and why it
is important. And tell us your own experiences of using
public services - how they have supported you and your
families."
Why public services are so important
Affordable and value for money
Matt warned, "We need to get across the message that
if these services are cut back or privatised the increased
costs of paying for them individually can only increase
the cost burden on hard-pressed families.
"We estimate the average household gets more than
£10,000 a year in benefits and public services. Public
delivery provides value for money through economies of
scale and stopping shareholders taking profits out of
the pot.
"A year's domestic waste collection sourced privately
would cost around £2,500, and the average cost of a year's
education outside the public sector in Scotland is around
£8,200."
Important for the economy
"But it is not just that public services are essential
for all of us. They also play a key part in the economic
well-being of our communities. Cuts in public sector jobs,
pay and pensions will only lead to less money being spent
to stimulate the economy, and if public services were
cut they would order and contract less with the private
sector.
"Far from being the drain on the economy argued by those
who created the economic crisis, the public sector contracts
for supplies and services from the private sector - especially
important when private industry faces reduced order books.
A just and fairer society
"In addition money spent in the economy by public service
staff will not be there if we accept the advice of the
right wing think tanks to cut jobs, pay and pensions.
Now is the time to build a fairer society based on social
justice, good jobs and quality public services. It is
up to all of us to highlight the importance of public
services and to get across the message that Public Works!"
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Scotland's
public service union
