Combating Austerity

Signposting the ways Scotland could limit the damage

The Conservative Government’s austerity programme will result in around a further £2 billion of cuts to Scotland’s public services. There is a broad consensus across Scotland that austerity is damaging to public services and the economy. UNISON Scotland is part of the campaign against austerity.

Combating Austerity pdf
Sep 2015

Combating Austerity report and toolkit

As part of combating austerity we should look at practical ways in which the Scottish Government, councils, health boards and other public bodies can mitigate against the worst of the cuts to come. Every sensible mitigation measure government and public authorities can take reduces the number of job losses and damage to vital public services and the economy.

Our Combating Austerity paper offers signposts to measures that would help combat austerity including:

• Contract buyouts and/or refinancing of expensive PPP/PFI projects;
• Refinancing of council and other public bodies debt;
• Imaginative use of council prudential borrowing and bonds;
• More efficient and effective use of local authority pension funds;

Join us in combating austerity by campaigning for these measures and limiting the damage

Contents

Toolkit

Briefings

Selected briefings from Bargaining and Campaigns Team - see more on Briefings page

Public services at risk

Our vital public services are at risk from austerity economics. Check out our interactive cartoon... and join the fight for public services >>>

The damage to our public services

A series of UNISON Scotland reports on how austerity is hitting public services and how we can protect them

Infographics

A great way to get the message across simply and effectively. Click here for a range to use.....