Building on the conference theme of defending the NHS put at risk by the economic crisis , UNISON General Secretary Dave Prentis gave a strong speech setting out the unions commitment to oppose privatisation and a pay freeze in the NHS:
“Whoever is returned to power they have to learn that cuts to public service budgets won’t help our recovery - they’ll hold it back. They’ve got to learn that just as unbridled market forces wrecked our financial system, they’ll wreak havoc in our public services too. They’ve got to understand that if the profit-motive didn’t help our banks serve the public interest, it certainly won’t help Hinchingbrooke hospital put its patients first. UNISON will not stand idly by and let our members in the NHS pay for the financial crisis with their jobs, with cuts to their pay, or to the vital care they deliver to our communities. Whether they are fighting to keep their A&E open or demanding action over cuts - we will be right there with them.”
http://www.unison.org.uk/asppresspack/pressrelease_view.asp?id=1833
