We have to “stop apologising when we say that cutting public services is NOT the way out of this current economic mess. Cut Trident, cut the use of consultants. Cut out privatisation”, she said.
The motion called for the TUC to step up action against the cuts, “and that action cannot wait until the next general election”.
It will support and co-ordinate ‘campaigning and joint union industrial action’ against attacks on jobs, pensions, pay or public services and step up promotion of the economic alternative to’ this government’s destructive policies’.
“The greatest myth of all is that we are all in this together”, said Jane. “What member of this multi millionaire cabinet will face the slightest difficulty? There is an answer – NONE!
“But the worst of it is that the cuts are only part of the agenda. The other part is the privatisation of the services that we provide. The pretence that public sector jobs can be done more cheaply, if only the private sector takes over. Well yes they can. If wages are cut. If Terms and conditions are cut. If Pensions are non existent."
And there is an alternative. “Don’t cut taxes- pursue the dodgers with double the zeal that is shown against so called benefit cheats whether those dodgers are individuals or corporations. Can we have TV campaign asking accountants to shop their tax cheating clients? And I have the slogan- BE A GRASS –MAKE THEM PAY TAX”, said Jane.
“Neo-liberalism is a failed ideology, with its failed emphasis on the primacy of the market, failing the test of economic reality. We live in a world turned upside down, where the rights of the super rich to accumulate wealth are prioritised over the rights and needs of working people.
“Our alternative economic strategy is the only way forward. Please take note Alistair Darling – we don’t need your collusion with Osborne on the cuts agenda just because you want to sell books.
“We are speaking for all of the working people of this country. From the porters to the consultants. From the dinner ladies to the chief executives.
“Whether they are TUC affiliated or not. We speak for the majority as this composite does. Our only defence is to stand together as the majority that we are”, said Jane and Congress agreed.
The full text of Jane Carolan’s speech is below.
A UNISON motion on Public Services has been a staple on the congress agenda for almost too long. We had criticisms under Thatcher and Major. Criticisms under new Labour when Congress dithered about whether to oppose PFI
Now perhaps we have the greatest threat yet. - The New Austerity agenda being preached by Osborne, cutting public expenditure to the rates of the 90’s despite changing demography and changing needs . There has been a major acceleration in the rate of attacks on Public Services in this country and the public are now waking up to the consequences. Barely a month ago when rioting broke out in several English cities, the press suddenly woke up to the extent of the cuts taking place in Youth Services, realising that when young people complained that there were no services for them, it wasn’t just a whinge from Kevin the Teenager. It was the stark reality that youth services are an early and obvious victim of the cuts programme in local authorities.
No youth services
No Educational Maintenance allowance
No jobs or apprenticeships
Cuts in university places
What a time to be 17.
But then don’t be a parent requiring a pre school placement unless you are very wealthy
Don’t be a pupil in a state school expecting you will get a first class education- your class room assistant will have been made redundant and your LEA will have its budget cut so that Tarquin and Tabitha from up the road can get their free school with real uniforms and Latin
Don’t think you can supplement your inadequate education at the local library- there probably isn’t one/
Don’t expect your Grandma to have meals on wheels or a home help- unless she can afford the much increased fees from a dilapidated service.
Don’t expect that if you see a child with additional needs, someone will rush to help. They will go on to the books of an already busy child protection social worker who will work wonders to make sure that they get assistance but cannot work miracles without resources
Don’t ever assume that if your son or your daughter, brother or sister can’t afford a mortgage there will be social housing available There won’t. Nor housing advice either
Maybe the only thing we have in common is a fear of crime. We have all watched CSI- Hi tech gismos and a scientific approach.
But I have it on good authority from my comrades in Strathclyde police staff that CSI Strathclyde will consist of an individual on a bicycle with a Blue Peter Kit of sticky back plastic and some washing up bottles. That’s Tory forensic science detection.
The welfare state is no longer a safety net
And let’s just leave consideration of what they are doing to our health service till that debate
The greatest myth of all is that we are all in this together.
What member of this multi millionaire cabinet will face the slightest difficulty?
There is an answer – NONE
But the worst of it is that the cuts are only part of the agenda. The other part is the privatisation of the services that we provide. The pretence that public sector jobs can be done more cheaply, if only the private sector takes over. Well yes they can. If wages are cut.
If Terms and conditions are cuts
If Pensions are non existent.
Of course that is cheaper. For the private sector providers and their shareholders. Not for those employed to provide the services. Not for those who need the services. How many in this hall watched Panorama on the private providers of social care, whose concern for those in their care never extended beyond maximising their own fat greed? Their motto is always never mind the client, look at the profit margin. Capitalism in action but it has no place in caring
And let us not pretend that there are backroom jobs that can be moved to a shared services or business centre. Lose control of part of your service and you lose financial and democratic accountability.
The reality is that our lives are being trampled over
Our services
Our jobs
Our pay- We didn’t need a Guardian headline this morning to know that our members are tightening their belts.
Our pensions.
And even in George Osborne’s universe that matters.
Unemployed public servants don’t just vanish – they claim benefits. Increasing public spending
Public sector workers in a pay freeze can’t spend. Instead they have to watch every penny and choose between schools uniforms and eating healthily. I don’t exaggerate. I know my members.
But the results of these actions as Keynes noted is that public expenditure increases even as economic demand falls.
That’s the real tragedy of the world we live in.
Real needs are not being met.
Real people in the real world are suffering deprivation.
And in the real economy providing goods and services our members need to increase their spending if this economy is now to come out of the double dip recession that we are now all plunged into.
So what’s the answer?
Well according to several top economists, we need to cut the top rate of tax. 50% is too much.
Now I’ve often wondered how you get to be a top economist?
Is it the same as football?
We all know that once Chelsea for example pays £10 million for a player he automatically becomes a top footballer
So is a top economist one who everyone goes “oh he’s brilliant – Oxford have paid top dollar for him?”
Or is it the case that so called top economists realise that if you want a well paid job you have to give the paymasters what they want- in this case a justification for the bankers for whom paying their fair share of their ill gotten gains is NOT what they want to hear. This is only the politics of greed and we would not be afraid to say so. And as to threats that these top earners will leave the country - I’m sure you know where Heathrow Airport is. The loss of a few merchant bankers will not cause the shedding of tears - and that is rhyming slang.
Or maybe a top economist is one with amnesia. Because this tax cutting agenda has been tried before. Google “reaganomics” and the evidence is there. Trickle down theories are exploded in the evidence that the only economic indicator that increased was the inequality gap.
Comrades we have to stop apologising when we say that cutting public services is NOT the way out of this current economic mess. Cut Trident, cut the use of consultants. Cut out privatisation.
Don’t cut taxes- pursue the dodgers with double the zeal that is shown against so called benefit cheats whether those dodgers are individuals or corporations. Can we have TV campaign asking accountants to shop their tax cheating clients? And I have the slogan- BE A GRASS –MAKE THEM PAY TAX.
Neo-liberalism is a failed ideology, with its failed emphasis on the primacy of the market, failing the test of economic reality. We live in a world turned upside down, where the rights of the super rich to accumulate wealth are prioritised over the rights and needs of working people.
Our alternative economic strategy is the only way forward. Please take note Alistair Darling – we don’t need your collusion with Osborne on the cuts agenda just because you want to sell books.
We are speaking for all of the working people of this country. From the porters to the consultants.
From the dinner ladies to the chief executives.
Whether they are TUC affiliated or not. We speak for the majority as this composite does. Our only defence is to stand together as the majority that we are.
Please support.
