UNISONActive is an unofficial blog produced by UNISON activists for UNISON activists. Bringing news, briefings and events from a progressive left perspective.

Saturday, 10 April 2010

Thousands march in Glasgow sun to defend public services

Thousands of UNISON members, service users and community groups marched through Glasgow this morning to say ‘Stop the Cuts’ and ‘Public Works’ as the next stage in the campaign against public service cuts. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/8612903.stm and http://unison-scotland.blogspot.com/2010/04/bbc-news-unison-protest-over-public.html

A glorious morning saw contingents from across Scotland march through Glasgow's west end to a rally in Kelvingrove Park. Speakers included UNISON President, Gerry Gallagher, STUC General Secretary, Grahame Smith, and PCS Scottish President, Janice Godrich.

UNISON’s Scottish Convenor, Mike Kirby said: "As politicians vie with one another to out trump each other’s cuts to pay for the bail out of the banks, we urge our members and community campaigns to join UNISON’s Public Works campaign and tell politicians at all levels – in Westminster, in Holyrood and locally, that you will not accept cuts in our vital public services to bail out the fat cats.”


UNISON UK President, Gerry Gallagher brought greetings to the marchers from a similar rally in London. He said, “In Glasgow and in London today our key message is that public services should not suffer because of the bank bailout. Our members didn’t cause the crash, and neither did the people we serve every day in communities across Scotland.

“Cuts will damage recovery from recession; Cuts will hit public services we all depend on; Cuts will threaten the wellbeing of our members and their families. You all have your own story to tell. And tell them you should. Because it is the combined voice of public service workers and service users that need to be heard in corridors of power.”