However, diversions aside, the main challenge facing UK unions is the Government’s economic austerity programme. As the TUC’s touchstone blog says in the opening line of its comprehensive analysis ‘resisting the cuts’ – “the dominant political issue for the life of this government is going to be public spending”.
http://www.touchstoneblog.org.uk/2010/07/resisting-the-cuts/print/
The discussion document is a very useful guide to action and of particular interest is the development of criteria for the effectiveness of anti cuts campaigns:
“Do they:
- help shift the issue from an abstract national debate to a personal and emotional response to the effect of the cuts?
- help bring users and providers together?
- allow us to advance or inject an alternative economic approach to the deficit?
- effectively put pressure on the government?
- avoid own goals?
- do what our opponents expect or want us to do?”
A UNISONActive report on today’s meeting of the General council will follow