New Year Message from UNISON's Scottish
Secretary
UNISONScotland will take the lead in defending
public services.
31 December 2008
To all UNISONScotland Branch Activists and Staff.
Dear Colleague
"UNISONScotland
intends to provide the leadership in defending and advancing
the case for our public services in the coming year." |
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 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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