Message from Regional Convenor
The general election gets closer and what do we get? another day older and deeper in debt, another politician thats going to make cuts.
It is really difficult when listening to politicians pontificate on how they are going to solve the issues facing the country by cutting our jobs and the services we provide not to just give up and stay at home. Politicians clearly have no concept of responsibility or the reality of how many people rely on the services provided by our members across the public sector. Neither do the majority of them appear to have any moral conscience…if I am correct they are insisting that all public sector workers should accept a pay freeze, whilst they themselves are offered a pay rise and are demanding that we pay for their childcare as well.
The reality is that we face is a fight to save the services we provide and we can only do this by defending our jobs. We must campaign now and take our campaign out of the workplace and into the public arena. It is essential that we get our message over to service users and the communities that we live in. The services they use depend on our members to supply them, the more jobs that go the more services that will be cut. Ask them how they will manage without the home help they currently rely on, will their children manage without classroom assistants or staff that provide school dinners and playground assistants. Where will they store their rubbish that will go uncollected, who will answer the phone when they call the emergency services. Who will be left to provide social services?
Remember we are service users too; we have a right to question our elected representatives and those unelected officials who make these decisions, to explain the rationale behind any cuts they make. Ask them how much will the cost of supporting those who lose their jobs add to the benefits bill across the country and who will meet that cost. Do you know how many councillors take home more in expenses annually than you get in salary? How many hours do they put in for it, and how are they held accountable for the consequences of their decisions.
You can ask them when they knock on your door seeking your vote [as they inevitably will!]. If you usually get rid of them quickly, try a different tack, invite them in and interrogate them about their policies. Ask them to justify to your family why they believe you should accept a pay freeze or lose your job. Draw up a list of Questions ready for when they arrive, consider arranging a meeting locally and invite them to attend and explain their policies to you, your family and your neighbours. Have a camera handy with the UNISON Million Voices Campaign speech bubble and ask them to sign up to the campaign - if they refuse get them to explain why. If they don’t knock on your door, call the local radio station and ask your questions on air. Write to your local paper as well as your Councillors, MP and prospective candidates.
Have you booked your place at the Public Services Cambridge question time event yet, there are not many places left so book now! see more here
We must and can win the fight to protect public services and our jobs, act now and send a strong message to all politicians of all political parties.
Contact us on unisoneastern@unison.co.uk
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