Coalition’s ‘public service reform’ being rushed through before the
public wakes up, says Unite
5 January 2011
The government’s so-called ‘public service reform’ is a recipe
for dismantling the welfare state before the public has realised
what has happened, Unite, the largest union in the country, said
today (Wednesday 5 January).
Unite, which has 250,000 members working in the public sector,
was highly critical in its written response to the government’s
call for evidence on public service reform.
Unite said that ministers’ push for reform was intimately linked
to the £81 billion worth of government cuts which will bear down
hardest on the poorest 10 per cent.
Unite said that it was ‘seriously concerned’ that the rushed
nature of the consultation – just six weeks, taking into account
the Christmas and new year holidays – breached the Code of Practice
on Consultation which recommends a consultation period normally
lasting 12 weeks.
Unite called for cabinet office minister, Francis Maude, who is
overseeing the public service reform process, to provide evidence
to parliament that services for the public will become better and
more comprehensive under the coalition’s programme.
Unite said in its evidence: ”The government’s drive to increase
independent provision in key public services does not appear to be
based on any evidence that this will lead to better public services
or acknowledge the important role that properly funded, directly
delivered public services play in the economy and society.”
Unite also highlighted the democratic deficit that would result
by transferring public services away from democratically-elected
bodies, such as local authorities, to organisations and businesses
which are not accountable at the ballot box.
Unite assistant general secretary for public services, Gail
Cartmail, said: ”The speed and scale of the coalition’s
helter-skelter rush to dismantle public services is a cynical ploy
to cut back the welfare state before the British public wakes up to
the massive and negative consequences.
”Francis Maude needs to provide clear and well-thought-out
evidence to parliament and the country that the government’s reform
process is not just a smooth PR exercise to save money; cut
services provided by both the public and not for profit sectors;
and open an Aladdin’s Cave for profiteering private companies to
take-over highly-valued public services.”
ENDS
Notes to news editors:
For further information, please contact: Gail Cartmail on
07768931305; John Earls, Unite, research section head on 020 7611
2657, john.earls@unitetheunion.org
or Shaun Noble, Unite communications officer on 07768 693940
Government
call for evidence
The full
Unite response.
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