Contracting culture: from CCT to PPS. The private provision of public services and its impact on employment relations

* Sanjiv Sachdev, Kingston University for UNISON, 44 pages, A4, paperback

As controversies surrounding the private finance initiative (PFI) and public-private partnerships (PPP) continue to dog the government, this report provides a timely reminder that at the heart of the issue is the threat to employees' terms and conditions.

Beginning with a look back at compulsory competitive tendering, Sachdev highlights how pay cuts, job losses and insecure employment began to undermine the progressive employment policies of local government and other public services. This has been carried through into best value in local councils and now PFI across virtually all public services.

As the role of trade unions has been weakened, the influence of multinational companies has grown, raising broader questions of accountability and how to retain a public service ethos.