Senior members of Britain's largest local government trade union met this week to discuss their continued opposition to proposed cuts, following a general election in which, Unison claimed, ‘there was no popular support' for the initiative.
As national politicians manoeuvred for power, following the election of a hung parliament, Unison's senior officials met to discuss the next stage of their campaign to prevent what they perceive as party proposals for damaging cuts to local services and staff.
Dave Prentis, Unison general secretary, convened the meeting on 11 May, which coincided with continuing – at the time The MJ went to press – talks over national power-sharing between the Conservative and Labour parties, and their possible coalition partners, the Liberal Democrats.
Unison believes that, through the party manifestos outlined before the vote last week, political leaders, particularly the Conservatives, could impose severe cuts on local government as they slash public spending to reduce Britain's borrowing.
Some fiscal experts have predicted budget reductions of up to 40% for local government, although most estimates are lower.
Mr Prentis said: ‘Public services and public sector workers have the prospect of savage cuts looming over them. All politicians need reminding that there is no popular support for brutal cuts in public spending – that would have followed an outright Tory victory.
‘Unison is rallying our forces, planning our fight-back to make sure public services are not the victims of the post-election bargaining,' he said.
Mr Prentis is among a group of influential trade unionists and public servants who – like outgoing prime minister, Gordon Brown – believe Britain could fall back into recession if public sector cuts run too deep over the next 12 months. ‘If that happens, the country will be plunged into social dislocation and industrial strife,' he warned.
