A very welcome intervention today from the Leader of Glasgow City Council calling for an end to the Council Tax freeze.
This is something UNISON Scotland has long argued for, because continuing the freeze will add to the scale of damaging cuts to services around the country. Local authorities should be able to raise funds through the council tax. Using the tax system is much fairer than raising charges for services. Charges hit those on low incomes hardest and the council tax freeze benefits the wealthy disproportionately.
Whilst many leaders have voiced their concerns over the Council Tax freeze privately, Gordon Matheson is the first to speak out. In the current financial climate, a tax freeze is simply not viable.
Monday, 16 August 2010
Political Education
I spent Sunday morning doing a couple of sessions at our new pilot course on trade unions and politics. The course was well received by the participants, who assisted with a detailed evaluation.
The course was oversubscribed, which is in itself a good indication that there is a growing understanding that politics matters. Converting an interest in politics into practical political activity is yet another challenge. Although with the Labour Party recruiting nearly 30,000 new members since the election, maybe there is some progress here as well.
Those of us brought up in a political environment often take it for granted that others understand politics, particularly in the trade union movement. However, when you talk to members and activists, it's obvious that we need to do very much more to educate members, to enable them to make a greater contribution to political debate. We are therefore looking at how we can include shorter versions of this course into other training, or deliver a shortened version at local level.
This type of training, together with our communications, can help develop a better understanding of the impact politics has on our members jobs. It can also raise awareness of how trade unions can influence the political process and build greater member engagement with our campaigns.
The course was oversubscribed, which is in itself a good indication that there is a growing understanding that politics matters. Converting an interest in politics into practical political activity is yet another challenge. Although with the Labour Party recruiting nearly 30,000 new members since the election, maybe there is some progress here as well.
Those of us brought up in a political environment often take it for granted that others understand politics, particularly in the trade union movement. However, when you talk to members and activists, it's obvious that we need to do very much more to educate members, to enable them to make a greater contribution to political debate. We are therefore looking at how we can include shorter versions of this course into other training, or deliver a shortened version at local level.
This type of training, together with our communications, can help develop a better understanding of the impact politics has on our members jobs. It can also raise awareness of how trade unions can influence the political process and build greater member engagement with our campaigns.
Friday, 13 August 2010
Scottish Gypsy Travellers
Yesterday I attended a gathering of organisations campaigning to end discrimination and take practical steps to improve the lives of probably the most marginalised and discriminated community in Scotland - Gypsy Travellers.
This community can trace their Scottish origins back to at least the 15th Century. Sadly their persecution and discrimination is also as long standing. For a good summary there is a current E-Petition by Ken MacLennan gathering signatures on the Scottish Parliament website.
There is a clear understanding of the problems facing the Scottish Gypsy Traveller community and a concern over the lack of action by governments. Less clear is the apparent reluctance of the EHRC to take action on these issues.
There was a broad agreement that co-ordinated action is required across government departments and other public bodies. This could be facilitated by a Scottish Government task force that should include representatives from the community. Whilst there are many areas that need action, organisations recognised that we need to prioritise. Key areas include housing, education, health, public awareness and access to legal services. There are also problems with reserved matters like Job Centres and the role of the EHRC.
From a UNISON perspective we recognise that many of our members interface with the Scottish Gypsy Traveller community. Many members are unaware of the issues facing the community and the legal framework. We are therefore considering commissioning an advice booklet to assist members and raise awareness of the very real problems this community faces.
This community can trace their Scottish origins back to at least the 15th Century. Sadly their persecution and discrimination is also as long standing. For a good summary there is a current E-Petition by Ken MacLennan gathering signatures on the Scottish Parliament website.
There is a clear understanding of the problems facing the Scottish Gypsy Traveller community and a concern over the lack of action by governments. Less clear is the apparent reluctance of the EHRC to take action on these issues.
There was a broad agreement that co-ordinated action is required across government departments and other public bodies. This could be facilitated by a Scottish Government task force that should include representatives from the community. Whilst there are many areas that need action, organisations recognised that we need to prioritise. Key areas include housing, education, health, public awareness and access to legal services. There are also problems with reserved matters like Job Centres and the role of the EHRC.
From a UNISON perspective we recognise that many of our members interface with the Scottish Gypsy Traveller community. Many members are unaware of the issues facing the community and the legal framework. We are therefore considering commissioning an advice booklet to assist members and raise awareness of the very real problems this community faces.
Strategy Conference
This week we launched our Public Services Strategy Conference to be held on Saturday 4 September in Glasgow.
The conference starts from the premise that Scotland needs quality public services and there is an alternative to cuts and job losses. This conference is an opportunity to discuss the alternatives including:
* How fair taxation and a living wage can support services
* How communities and trade unions are defending services and jobs
* Why public is better than private
* What you can do to protect your services, your community, your job
Speakers include UNISON General Secretary, Dave Prentis and Stephen Boyd from the STUC. There will be workshops with an emphasis on action planning to take the campaign forward.
If you want to attend you can register on the UNISON Scotland website.
The conference starts from the premise that Scotland needs quality public services and there is an alternative to cuts and job losses. This conference is an opportunity to discuss the alternatives including:
* How fair taxation and a living wage can support services
* How communities and trade unions are defending services and jobs
* Why public is better than private
* What you can do to protect your services, your community, your job
Speakers include UNISON General Secretary, Dave Prentis and Stephen Boyd from the STUC. There will be workshops with an emphasis on action planning to take the campaign forward.
If you want to attend you can register on the UNISON Scotland website.
Wednesday, 4 August 2010
Scottish Futures Trust and PFI
The Herald is running an interview with SFT Chief Executive Barry White that highlights that the Scottish Futures Trust would still use PFI.
Perhaps the only real surprise here is that The Herald thinks that this is a new revelation. The SFT has been developing PFI schemes from the outset. The Hub initiative is a direct copy of the English LIFT PFI scheme. The so called Non Profit Distributing (NPD) model is also a PFI scheme, with plenty of profit returned to the commercial partners.
If you put a former PFI advisor to run the SFT and a private finance banker to Chair it, you shouldn't be surprised if they stick with what they know. And that's PFI.
Perhaps the only real surprise here is that The Herald thinks that this is a new revelation. The SFT has been developing PFI schemes from the outset. The Hub initiative is a direct copy of the English LIFT PFI scheme. The so called Non Profit Distributing (NPD) model is also a PFI scheme, with plenty of profit returned to the commercial partners.
If you put a former PFI advisor to run the SFT and a private finance banker to Chair it, you shouldn't be surprised if they stick with what they know. And that's PFI.
Tuesday, 3 August 2010
Pensions
A rare experience today of commenting favourably on an article in the Daily Express!
A piece by Sarah O'Grady highlights that private pensions in Britain can be half the value of our European counterparts, because of the fees grabbed by greedy private pension providers. As a leading pension manager put it “If a typical British and a typical Dutch person save the same amount, the Dutch person ends up with 50 per cent more income in retirement. There’s no trick – the Dutch have an efficient architecture for savings and we do not.”
This story also highlights the importance of good pension schemes. Public sector workers save year in, year out for their pensions, but most private sector workers are denied this opportunity. Individuals are faced with very complex pension choices and end up with plans that charge high fees, are inefficient and underperform, leaving them not enough money to live on when they retire.
This is the real pensions apartheid that the government should be tackling instead of attacking the so-called ‘gold-plated pensions’ enjoyed by public sector workers such as social workers, nursery nurses, classroom assistants, care workers, nurses and paramedics. The real pensions scandal is how the country will afford to look after the people who have not saved, or not saved enough for their retirement and then need means-tested state benefits.
Our full response can be viewed on our website.
A piece by Sarah O'Grady highlights that private pensions in Britain can be half the value of our European counterparts, because of the fees grabbed by greedy private pension providers. As a leading pension manager put it “If a typical British and a typical Dutch person save the same amount, the Dutch person ends up with 50 per cent more income in retirement. There’s no trick – the Dutch have an efficient architecture for savings and we do not.”
This story also highlights the importance of good pension schemes. Public sector workers save year in, year out for their pensions, but most private sector workers are denied this opportunity. Individuals are faced with very complex pension choices and end up with plans that charge high fees, are inefficient and underperform, leaving them not enough money to live on when they retire.
This is the real pensions apartheid that the government should be tackling instead of attacking the so-called ‘gold-plated pensions’ enjoyed by public sector workers such as social workers, nursery nurses, classroom assistants, care workers, nurses and paramedics. The real pensions scandal is how the country will afford to look after the people who have not saved, or not saved enough for their retirement and then need means-tested state benefits.
Our full response can be viewed on our website.
Budget review
Back from holiday and straight into a BBC phone in on the 'Independent' Budget Review. This report is a predictable rehash of the business agenda from the usual establishment suspects. In fairness their remit was limited to implementing cuts, without any serious consideration of alternative strategies.
One aspect that is getting a particular media focus is the ring fencing of the NHS budget. In fact the ring fence doesn't actually add up to the claims that the 'health budget will be protected'. The most that is protected is the Treasury's notional inflation figure, that this year stands at 1.5%, when actual inflation is nearer 5%. Health inflation is even higher because of spiralling drugs pricing and the cost of PFI schemes, amongst other costs.
We also need to recognise that health spending and the NHS budget are not the same thing. Many other aspects of public spending have an impact on health. Not least social care, which if not available, will simply block up beds in NHS hospitals.
Even the 'protection' of NHS budgets is being whittled away. It is noticeable that ministers at UK and Scottish level are now talking about protecting 'front line' services. This is one of the most abused phrases politicians come up with when implementing cuts. It plays to widespread myth that the cuts can be made on non-essential bureaucracy. In fact health staff are a team and cuts in support staff simply shift administrative and other functions onto other staff, detracting from patient care.
One aspect that is getting a particular media focus is the ring fencing of the NHS budget. In fact the ring fence doesn't actually add up to the claims that the 'health budget will be protected'. The most that is protected is the Treasury's notional inflation figure, that this year stands at 1.5%, when actual inflation is nearer 5%. Health inflation is even higher because of spiralling drugs pricing and the cost of PFI schemes, amongst other costs.
We also need to recognise that health spending and the NHS budget are not the same thing. Many other aspects of public spending have an impact on health. Not least social care, which if not available, will simply block up beds in NHS hospitals.
Even the 'protection' of NHS budgets is being whittled away. It is noticeable that ministers at UK and Scottish level are now talking about protecting 'front line' services. This is one of the most abused phrases politicians come up with when implementing cuts. It plays to widespread myth that the cuts can be made on non-essential bureaucracy. In fact health staff are a team and cuts in support staff simply shift administrative and other functions onto other staff, detracting from patient care.
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