September 2010

Launch of Tell a Pal initiative

ETUC Day of Action: 29 September

Fat cat bankers should be forced to tighten their belts, not the public - that’s the message from UNISON Scotland.

To mark the European TUC’s day of action, members and activists will gather in the city centre to pull on the belt of a ‘real’ fat cat and send a clear message that the public should not be left to pay the price for the bankers’ mistakes.

The media event will coincide with the launch of the UNISON Scotland’s Tell A Pal initiative, which urges members and activists to spread the word that there is a real alternative to the cuts and privatisation agenda.

The European TUC is co-ordinating a day of action across Europe on September 29, under the banner “No to austerity – priority for jobs and growth.” Each country will be organising a variety of events on the day with the main focus on a demonstration in Brussels.

The Tell A Pal initiative aims to encourage activists and members to discuss our alternative strategy to cuts in public services. The idea, based on the ‘recruit a friend’ concept, is that we give each member four key messages to ‘tell a pal’ about. They cover cuts in services, fair taxation and economic impact. The final message is to attend the STUC ‘Better Way’ demo in Edinburgh on October 23.

These messages will be available in different formats for branches to use in their communications. Below are a few suggestions on how to get involved:

Come along and pull on the belt of a ‘real’ fat cat

Members and activists who would like to show their support for public services can come along to the fat cat media event which will be held outside Marks and Spencer in Argyle Street at 12.30pm on Wednesday, September 29.

Tell a pal

There is a real alternative to cuts in public services, but we need to spread the word. It’s important that we get people talking and the Tell A Pal initiative is designed to encourage members and activist to tell as many people as possible.

August2010

We are facing a savage attack on public services that will have a huge impact across all of the services we provide, with devastating effects on our members, their families and the wider community.  Scotland needs quality public services, but everywhere the talk is of cuts and job losses. It doesn’t have to be this way.

 Come and find out about the alternatives at the strategy conference on Saturday 4 September, in Glasgow. This is one of a series of autumn union events including a European Trade Union Confederation Day of Action on Wednesday 29 September and an STUC demonstration in October. The conference provides the opportunity for all of our service groups to assess the challenges we face and develop our Public Works campaign for the future.  UNISON’s Dave Prentis and Stephen Boyd, from the STUC, will speak and there will be workshops, discussion and action planning. Branches should register their representatives as soon as possible. Follow the website link to register and for a pdf of the flyer/poster: www.unison-scotland.org.uk  

Last month’s Independent Budget Review report, which said up to 60,000 public sector jobs could go by 2014-15, was a political attack on Scotland’s public services. The real issue is the kind of services our society wants and how we pay for them. UNISON condemned the report and insisted that Scottish Water should remain in democratic control.

The current financial crisis is being used by those whose free market ideology caused it. They want to reshape public services on the basis of this failed outlook. The idea that the UK is bankrupt and has no option other than to take an axe to public services is a politically driven myth. The review panel mentioned their desire to protect those in “greatest need”. UNISON does not believe public services should only be for those in greatest need. They should be for everyone and are part of what holds us together as a society.

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