THE Coalition Government’s programme, particularly its emergency budget measures, are economically reckless and socially divisive.
The North West TUC will play its part in defending our jobs, services and communities.
- Cuts now will make the recession worse. Private sector jobs, as well as those in the public sector, depend on public spending. Poorer regions of England are especially dependent on public spending.
- The government says that massssive cuts are the only way to reduce the deficit. They are not. We should tax those who did well from the boom, the banks and their massive profits – not penalise those that did nothing to cause the crisis. The Government must invest in growth – not threaten recovery.
- The coalition is breaking its promises that the cuts will be fair. They will hit front-line services; the poor and vulnerable; increase inequality; open up a new North/South divide; and let the richest off the hook.
- Some in the coalition have a long-standing ideological commitment to reduce the size of the state. They are using the deficit as an excuse. Right-wing politicians and think-tanks called for cuts when the economy was booming. Their agenda is driven by ideology rather than economic reality.
- Tax-payers are right to ask for value for money. Academy and ‘Free’ schools, increased privatisation and ever more complex internal markets in the NHS, will deliver less for more.
Proud to serve the public will continue to carry the latest news and campaign resources. Nationally, the TUC’s “Cuts Watch” is carrying regular updates on the impact of the Coalition Government’s policies – http://www.touchstoneblog.org.uk/category/cuts-watch/.
Support our campaign
Local trade unionists will be lobbying MPs and councillors – particularly the LibDem5 – in the run up to the Comprehensive Spending Review in October.
The Lib Dem’s National Conference is in Liverpool in September. A national trade union rally will be held in in Liverpool at the Lib Dem Annual Conference on Sunday 19th September. All organisations are urged to make preparations now to be in Liverpool from 1.00 pm on the 19 September. We will be organising a range of events and activities including lobbying and other actions throughout the conference to challenge rank and file delegates to reject the right wing agenda of the Coalition.
The European TUC is calling a European Day of activity on 29 September. Unions nationally will be sending delegations to the Euro Demonstration in Brussels demonstrating against the austerity measures adopted recently by many European countries, and to demand recovery plans in favour of quality jobs and growth. Unions are being encouraged to use this day to hold awareness-raising activities in their workplaces – please let us know what you are planning.
We will be supporting the national rally and lobby of Parliament called by the Public Service Liaison Group for the 19 October, the eve of the announcement of the Comprehensive Spending Review.
As part of that, we will be co-ordinating regional and local activities on the 22 and 23 October.
In November we will be holding a major conference for union officers and reps from private and public sector unions, voluntary and community organisations, service users to seek to understand the nature of the attacks and to develop alternative strategies.
Our plans will be geared towards a massive response from the North West and participation in the planned National March and Rally in Spring.
Related posts:
- COALITION GOVERNMENT ‘UNBELIEVABLY NAIVE’ OVER JOB LOSSES, SAYS NORTH WEST BUSINESS LEADER
- CON/DEM COALITION GOVERNMENT AGREE ON £6BILLION CUTS FOR PUBLIC SERVICES
- 80,000 jobs to go from public services in North West
- UNION MEMBERS APPEAL TO THE NORTH WEST’S FIVE LIB DEM MPS OVER CUTS IN PUBLIC SERVICES
- NEW REPORT WARNS OF IMPACT OF COALITION GOVERNMENT’S THREATENED SPENDING CUTS
'Proud to serve the public’ is a North West TUC campaign to protect and promote public services in our Region. We believe public services are a vital part of the North West economy. They create jobs, stimulate growth and... 
Glad to see you are targetting the Lib Dems – how they can conspire with the Tories to destroy public services and the Welfare State is absolutely disgusting. I know people who voted Lib Dem at the general election because they liked Clegg – they wont be voting for him next time!