Tory charity manifesto plans ‘will hit services’, says Unite
13th April 2010
Key elements of the Conservative manifesto on the voluntary
sector herald ‘a race to the bottom’ in terms of service delivery
and employee conditions, Unite, the UK’s largest union, warns today
(Tuesday, 13 April).
Rachael Maskell, national officer, community and non profit
sector, said the Tory plans for charities to take over more
responsibilities and duties from the state were ‘a lethal cocktail’
which will put profit before people.
She said: ”It is clear that the Tory proposals for the not for
profit sector will see more voluntary organisations competing for
contracts to run services that were previously provided by central
and local government.’
”This will mean a race to the bottom as charities scrabble
around to cut the costs in a bid to obtain contracts. This will
have an appalling knock-on effect in terms of service delivery, and
the security and employment conditions of the 750,000 people
employed in the sector.
”The Tory plans smack of short-termism and an attack on the
traditional role of the state. Unite is not against the voluntary
sector providing such valuable services, but we believe that they
should be complementary, and not as a substitute, for the services
that the state currently provides.“
Unite is particularly concerned about two planks of the Tory
manifesto relating to charities which are:
- a work programme delivered through private and voluntary sector
providers, which will be rewarded on a payment by results basis for
getting people into sustainable work
- a ‘right to bid’ to run any community service instead of the
state.
ENDS
Notes to news editors:
For further information, please ring: Rachael Maskell, national
officer 020 7420 8979 or Shaun Noble, communications officer 020
7420 8951 or 07768 693 940
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