Jump to content

Recommended Posts

Not me. Unison's alternative to save ?33M is to "sack wasteful consultants as well the bottomless pit of private contractors. No privatization, bring services back in-house" and to spend the Council's reserves. All they are really worried about is ensuring their membership doesn't decrease.
Perhaps, or perhaps their members are just concerned for their jobs and the impact of cuts on society. But personally am not that interested in Unison's motives for calling this demo and I don't think it will be only Unison members there. For me, there is huge value in showing the numbers of people who care about what is happening and give the council at least pause for thought if not the ammunition to stand up to central government. Maybe naive, but I can't just stand by and watch valuable public services being taken to bits.

Maybe naive, but many people stood by and watched as the last government inflated the cost of valuable public services, using money borrowed from the future (ie us today and our children) without improving either their efficiency and effectiveness.


I'm with Loz - Unison is after protecting jobs not services.

I won't be joining this march simply because I don't see the point in making a noisy (glad I don't live there) complaint, without offering a realistic solution. Southwark have to cut services because they don't have enough money. It's that simple.

Unisons's "sack wasteful consultants as well the bottomless pit of private contractors. No privatization, bring services back in-house" is easily said, but they provide no evidence of waste that could be cut out (I don't doubt there is some, but consultants are most commonly used to do short term specialist work that would otherwise need a member of staff that would be similarly expensive due to their under-utilisation), or calculations of how the financial savings can actually be achieved.

And let's not forget that all those consultants and private contractors are people too; some of them lowly paid. They just don't happen to be paying any union dues to Unison.

The only real way to ensure there are no cuts would be to massively increase council tax. March for that anyone?

I remember a recent debate where it transpired rubbish collectors were part of the 'consultants to be overthrown'.


It transpired the guys in question were both cheaper and better than the previous council lot.


I wanted better service for my money, so the union based protest was disingenuous at best.


Protest is good, when it's appropriate. The OP implied they didn't care about the details, so it doesn't seem bright.

I speak as someone who has never been a union member and would never be, but criticising unions for trying to save their members jobs is like criticising turkeys for not voting for Christmas.


What do people think unions should be doing in these circumstances?


The more that ordinary members of the public actively engage with the broad organised movement opposed to the cuts, the greater the possibility of changing their focus, pace and depth.


This economic policy is by the governments own admission, a gamble. There is no conclusive proof that a deficit reduction policy is the correct one for the present circumstances. Economists diverge on the cuts vs stimulus debate. Is it of no coincidence that the economic policy chosen is the one that correlates exactly with the political philosophy of Conservatism which is to favour a smaller central government and public sector?

My point being that these cuts are a choice - economically and politically, they are not an inescapable essential truth.

Small steps and actions like joining demonstrations such as these, add weight and support to the voices challenging that view.

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
  • Latest Discussions

    • With fibre you are paying for the speed, which is the number, yours is 300 so if you did a lot of gaming, for example, you would want the fastest possible.  If it's just office work or maybe streaming on Netflix you likely won't need as fast, but, if there are a lot of people in your house all doing their own thing on different devices, then faster speeds are better.  I don't rely on my Wi-Fi much other than when I am using my mobile.  I use Ethernet cables to connect up everything, I Have one cable running from my router, along the skirtings and through a hole I drilled in the wall to another room.  I have attached the plusnet speed guide which gives you an idea of how it works.   
    • I'd reread what you posted and try to summarise.  It just comes across as a rant.
    • Just shows, to me, once proud to be a citizen of UK.. now.. well if we pay/contribute to services - nhs, police, fire etc and folk who have made this there home - no matter what creed or culture.. for the love c of God, can someone  please explain to me.. how we have working royals who like them or not, have tried and continue to actually support and make a change and then we have Andrew.. who just destroys everything.. not just him, or royalty but his own children..  I had great admiration for The Queen - and respect.. as have a huge number of people.. but.. these old traditions where gosh.. live rent free and can’t get chucked out until I believe 2070? From what I scanned..well he has and continues to have it all.. has to go thru what old rules? Etc.  doubt very much he has even kept the upkeep maintenance up on his abode.. and do the shite keeps on pulling up.. What has Andrew done for UK or for that matter since he was 20?? Do please tell me       Totally off topic, before anyone jumps down my throat.. I just do not get how anyone is proud to be British at this point in time. Whoever is in power, seems to be able to help themselves to the public purse with no redress at all - Covid is a great example of lining of pockets.. Millions  given to Rowanda, so one is led to believe, to help with refugee problem and one can’t get a plane load off!  I simply do not get it at all. Use of food banks in UK growing yearly, homeless as well, nhs, police, fire service etc all on their knees..        
    • Have applied the green roof at a number of properties and no issues you are concerned about detected. Have issues with cats defecating in the vicinity, however, they are not selecting the green roof specifically. Use decent compost, slow release fertiliser specific for green roofs, and lay it methodically not leaving blank patches. It looks amazing when cared for and adds value.  
Home
Events
Sign In

Sign In



Or sign in with one of these services

Search
×
    Search In
×
×
  • Create New...