Protecting people, pay and pensions in local
government
+++stop press+++ April 2011 update - Cuts have kicked in -
tell us your story+++stop press+++
Unite - campaigning to fight the cuts in
local government.
A workforce under attack
The Tory-led coalition’s slashing of public spending has hit
local authorities hard. The cuts kicked in throughout the country
on 1 April, after councils were dealt the harshest ever financial
settlement from central government with a colossal spending cut of
27 per cent.
Join Unite in the campaign to fight the cuts –
Take 6 steps to protect
our people and services. For posters, activist briefing, the
campaign guide and more click
Protecting People.
Unite wants to hear from you.
Share your news, good and bad, so that others can be inspired.
You can also post on the Unite
Facebook page or via Twitter. If you have a
story to tell, an event to publicise or a rally to report please
get in touch. We would also like to hear of councils that have not
adopted the slash and burn policies of their neighbours. Help us
show that there is a better way!
Unite local government workers have been the driving
force in fighting the cuts in their local areas. In many
communities throughout the country local government workers are
getting active in grassroots anti-cuts campaigns. Check out the
News from the Region page for information on the fightback.
Text Cuts to 86888 to join our free 'Unite You'
service or tell us your
cuts stories. Your comments will be posted and used in Unite's
media work.
Keep the pressure on – Unite recognises that many
people are feeling demoralised as the sheer scale of the cuts to
jobs and services hits home. But Unite members hold the key. 5 May
is Election Day in most local councils. Make sure you
register to vote. Visit About my vote. The blame for
these cuts lies firmly at the door of the Con-dem government. Show
them just how angry you are!
Take action - Write to your constituency MP,
local councillors and the media. Our MPs and local councillors need
to start listening. Get your
template letters and
press template letter here. Start a petition,
organise a protest and hold regular meetings, download the poster -
keep the pressure on!
Dealing with the deficit - there is a better way - download Unite's
briefing and alternative economic programme
Unite’s Protecting people, pay and pensions campaign focuses on
the areas under attack; Protecting people, giving you the resources
to fight the cuts in your local area; Pay, giving you the tools to
campaign against the ‘pay freeze’ and Pensions, providing a link to
our joint trade union campaign. Unite's Don't Break Britain campaign
website has further information to support you in your fight.
Join the campaign and start making a
difference now
Click on the People placard for the
campaign to Fight the cuts; Click on the Pay placard for the campaign to Fight the
Pay cuts; and click on the Pensions placard for more on
pensions.
Join the campaign and start making a
difference now
It was announced in the Comprehensive Spending
Review (20/10/10) that council budgets will be slashed by an
eye-watering 28 per cent over the next four years. This equates to
a massive £5.6billion reduction in central government funding, on
top of the £1.165billion that has already been cut this year.
Cuts on this scale threaten to rip local
communities apart as vital services, such as local libraries, hot
evening meals for the elderly and youth projects are axed and jobs
are lost. The biggest losers are the poor and vulnerable, with more
deprived areas hardest hit. But we will all suffer from the decline
in our local communities caused by these short-sighted cuts.
Local government workers and the vital
services they provide are bearing the brunt of the government’s
squeeze on council funding. Across the country, in places such as
Birmingham, Sandwell, Oldham and Hull councils are issuing mass
redundancy notices. The Tory-led Local Government Employers
predicts that 140,000 council jobs will go in the first year
alone.
Your photographs, flyers and reports on the
action you are taking will help inspire others to get
involved..
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