WARNING OVER IMPACT ON LOCAL ECONOMIES
Lancashire UNISON are warning local people about the dangers to local economies of huge public spending cuts leading to job losses, set to be announced in the budget on Tuesday (22 June).
Only last week, UNISON's annual conference voted to step up the campaign against the government's cuts programme, by building national and international alliances to fight the cuts, that delegates said were a political choice, and not inevitable, that would hit the poor, sick and vulnerable.
The union warned that local shops, hairdressers and businesses, would be hit really hard if public sector workers are thrown onto the dole, because local businesses rely heavily on them to keep spending to boost the economy.
"Our members are really worried about their future and whether these cuts will cost them their jobs. Local shops, hairdressers and restaurants rely on the spending power of public sector workers to keep their doors open. Many local businesses, too, rely on contracts from the public sector for their livelihoods. Without this vital cash injection, our local economy will be devastated.
"The sort of cuts our local area is facing will hit services hard, threatening hospitals, schools, libraries, care homes, leisure centres, and nurseries. There are clear alternatives, and we are supporting our union's alternative SOS budget for a fairer road to recovery."
Dave Prentis, UNISON General Secretary, said:
"Our members are angry - they are angry that the Government is forging ahead with drastic cuts to vital services that people rely on - and ignoring these obvious alternatives.
"UNISON is calling for people to join us in challenging the government's cuts programme, which would be a disaster for this local area. The union will also be building alliances nationally and internationally, to bring millions of people together to fight for a fairer future."
UNISON's alternative Save our Services budget:
£4.7bn could be raised every year by introducing a 50% tax rate on incomes over £100,000
£10bn could be raised every year by reforming tax havens and residence rules to reduce tax avoidance by corporations and 'non-domiciled' residents
£14.9bn could be raised every year by using minimum tax rates to stop reliefs being used disproportionately subsidise incomes over £100,000
£30bn could be raised every year by introducing a Major Financial Transactions Tax on UK financial institutions - the Robin Hood Tax
At least £1.5bn could be raised this year by bringing back the windfall tax on bankers' bonuses.
£4bn could be saved this year by cancelling Trident, the project could cost as much as £100bn.
£500m could be saved every year by eradicating healthcare acquired infections from the NHS - the extra cleaners would cost half this.
£495m could be saved every year by adopting measures to improve the health and well-being of NHS staff, thereby reducing sickness absence
£1bn could be saved every year by halving the local government agency bill, as has been achieved by high performing councils
£5bn could be raised every year with an Empty Property Tax on vacant dwellings. This only exaggerates housing shortages and harms neighbourhoods.
£2.8bn could be saved every year by ending the central government use of private consultants who bring little discernable benefit
£3bn could be saved in user fees and interest charges every year if PFI schemes were replaced with conventional public procurement
Total - 77.895bn.