We have a fight on our hands but nobody does it better than us!

by Kate Ramsden

UNISON National President, Angela Lynes, returned to her home turf in Glasgow when she attended the meeting of Local Government branches in February to thank activists for their hard work, to urge them to keep up the campaign against cuts and to mobilise for the demo in London on 26 March.

She slammed the Tory-led government’s ideological hatred of the public sector, its failure to recognise the impact that public sector cuts will have on the rest of the economy and its stubborn refusal to change course as it plunges us ever nearer to a double dip recession.

However, she told the meeting that the news last week that the economy has officially gone into reverse might be seen as something of a turning point in the years to come.

“We now have conclusive proof that the threats to the economy that UNISON has been warning about for the past year have come to pass.

“Proof that the Tory cuts agenda is poisonous for our recovery; that the economy is not strong enough and the private sector is unable to come to the rescue. Even their friends in the City have turned on them,” warned Angela.

“And the impact is not just about facts and figures. It’s about massive pain for working people and their families.”

She warned that unemployment, already at 2.5 million, will soar when 600,000 public service workers are thrown out of work.

She spoke of the challenges faced by council branches in Scotland; the grant settlement that is a 5.5% cut in real terms; the council tax freeze which is neither realistic nor sustainable in the current circumstances; the budget cuts and job losses planned by many councils.

“These are the direct fruits of the cuts imposed by the Westminster government,” said Angela, “but they are being translated to our services and our jobs in Scotland.

“Those who can afford it must pay their share,” she said, calling for an end to tax evasion and avoidance by the rich, and an end to the bonus culture in banks, where it is “business as usual.”

“The pain is clearly not being shared by all,” she said, pointing out that Bob Diamond, the Chief Executive of Barclays will be paid £8 million this year and Goldman Sachs have awarded £9 million in free shares to the boss of a company whose profits slumped by 38%.

“At the same time thousands of Scottish workers are too low paid even to afford their rent with around 22% of those on housing benefit in work."

She called on branches to mobilise members to be at the TUC demonstration in London on 26 March. She urged members and activists to recruit new members to build strength and to reach out to families, friends and communities.

“I know that branches are working harder than ever before to ensure our members get the advice support and back-up they need in these hard times.

“Up and down the country our union has been campaigning, lobbying, negotiating and taking industrial action locally to protect jobs and services.”

“And we are making an impact,” she added. “Time and time again employers have had to retreat and rethink their plans.”

“We have a fight on our hands, but fight we will, and nobody does it better than us.”

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