Labour Research June 2017

Union news

Focus must be on public services


Unions with members in the public services are asking those members to try to keep public services at the top of the political agenda during the general election campaign. 


The UNISON union says that because of spending restrictions, it cannot run adverts throughout the election period, but that materials and ideas can be used locally by members to keep public services in the election debate. 


It suggests they use the union’s “public services champions” campaign, which contrasts the value the public attaches to public services with UNISON members’ stories of trying to deliver them after nearly 10 years of cuts.


The PCS civil service union has produced resources for members to raise local issues such as office closures and job cuts with their constituency candidates. 


It also points members to its booklet showing the links between Brexit, austerity and racism, saying they can use it to combat “the likely increase in anti-immigration rhetoric with the consequential rise in hate crime” during the election campaign.

https://www.unison.org.uk/news/article/2017/05/general-election-three-things-you-can-do-right-now

www.pcs.org.uk/campaigns/general-election-2017/online-resources