We need to
challenge the assumption that there is nothing we can do about the
threats to our members and our communities. The cuts are being
delivered by a flaky coalition which might not last 18 months never
mind 5 years and it has to be attacked at every level and using all
methods we can bring to bear.
There is an alternative to cuts.
After World War II national debt was around five
times higher
than it is now and yet the government still managed to create the NHS, a welfare
state and build two million council homes.
Despite what the ConDem coalition government say, there is an
alternative to cuts.
We can reduce the deficit and at the same time create a fairer society for all,
here are a few suggestions:
Close the tax gap - £120 billion a year is lost
via tax avoidance, tax evasion and late payment of tax. Tackling this will raise
billions.
Scrap Trident - we could save £100 billion by scrapping Trident.
Tax incomes over £100,000 - £4.7 billion a year could be raised by
introducing a 50% tax rate on incomes over £100,000.
Robin Hood Tax - a financial transaction tax on the banks could raise £30
billion a year.
Empty properties tax - £5 billion could be raised every year with a
tax on empty properties which exacerbate housing shortages and
harm neighbourhoods.
Reform tax havens and residence rules - We could raise £10 billion
a year by reforming tax havens and residence rules to reduce tax
dodging by corporations and non-domiciled residents.
Stop tax relief for the wealthy - £14.9 billion could be raised every
year by using minimum tax rates to stop reliefs being used to
disproportionately subsidise incomes over £100,000.
.……….and the list
goes on.
ConDem cuts are neither fair or necessary. They are driven by a
nasty ideology rather than sensible and basic economics.
Below are some useful documents for both
Branches, activists and members to download.
Click here
to download UNISON's Alternative Budget factsheet.
Click here to view
Branch Resources on UNISON's national website.
Click here to view the March
for the Alternative Website
Click here for Powerpoint for branch use exploring the
true cost to the government of making a local government
worker redundant.
Click here for speakers notes for the above powerpoint
presentation
Coach and Rail Seats available as of 24 March. Please check
with Branch
·Trafford Health
- Coach – 22 seats available at 6.00am from Trafford General Hospital,
Moorside Road Davyhulme. Please contact Margaret Roberts at the
Trafford Health branch on 0161 746 2219 for further information.
·Lancashire Police -
Train – 7 First Class seats available on the 6.58am train from Preston
to Euston – returning at 6.30pm. Tickets are £50 each – please contact
Maureen Le Marinel on 07956852839.
·Burnley LG
- Seats
left on the 2nd coach at 6:30am from Nelson bus station, 6:45am from
Burnley bus station and may be picking up in Rawtenstall. Please contact
Sophie Brigden on 01282 477148.
·Manweb
– 20 coach seats available at 6:00am from Liverpool Metropolitan
Cathedral, Mount Pleasant, Liverpool and 6:45am from Wilderspool
Causeway, Warrington (ScottishPower Offices). Contact on Dave Read
01244 653076 or 07584384796 to confirm places
·East Cheshire Health
-15 coach seats available– free of charge, members encouraged to
bring family and friends. Coach picks up at: 6.00am from Jocelyn Solly
Resource Centre, Victoria Rd, Macclesfield, SK10 3JE and 6.45 am Crewe
Road (A534) Bus stop outside B&Q (just after entrance to car park), CW1
6BA. People advised to get there 15 mins before set off times as above.
Drop off will be at Euston and return journey scheduled for 17:00 at
Euston. Contact Carolyn Hunt on 01625 505611
·Lancashire
- 10 coach seats departing Preston. Cost £20 for adults and £5 for
children. For further details and to book a seat contact Janet McDonald
on 01772 533072.
·Knowsley - 10 coach seats available from Kirkby
Municipal Building, Cherryfield Drive, Kirkby at 5.45 and Huyton
Municipal Building, Archway Road, Huyton at 6 am. Please contact Viv at
the branch on 0151 548 0148.
Click here to download the
Survival Guide!
Advice for marchers on 26 March
Branches have been sent promotional material to publicise the TUC
National demonstration against the cuts on 26 March 2011. Items
include: pens, coasters, wristbands, car window stickers, notepads,
stickers, which should be distributed to members. We have limited
supplies still available for branches. If you require any further
stock, please contact Victoria Walton on 0161 661 6716.
Click here
to download the UNISON NW logo for the 26 March.
The
Regional Publicity & Campaigning Committee stressed the importance of a
UNISON steward's role in the campaign against spending cuts. It was
agreed that there is no better person to raise the issues with members
in the workplace than a UNISON steward. To help with this we are asking
all stewards to “Talk to Ten…Stop the Cuts” about the issues – we've
produced a quick list of conversation starters in the attached leaflet.
Lobbies On 19 October UNISON Members lobbied their MP against
spending cuts that were to be announced by George Osborne the
following day. There is still time to lobby your MP if you
have not already done so.
Click here to find
out the name and contact details of your local MP.
Lobby
Liberal Democrat MP's - Material The Liberal Democrats betrayed their election pledges of fairness
for a share of power. This ConDem coalition has declared war on the
public sector. Their plans will devastate the services people rely
on and throw innocent, hardworking people onto the do le to pay for
a mess the rich and greedy created. What happened to fairness? They
haven’t even bothered to consider alternatives to cuts.
The following documents
can be used for those UNISON members living in the constituency of
the following Liberal Democrat MPs.
Workplace Lobbies
Click here
UNISON guidance on demonstrations and lobbies i.e. council meetings
CONTACT DETAILS
• To find out more about membership benefits contact our helpline, UNISONdirect on 0845 355 0845. Lines are open 6am-midnight Mon to Fri and 9am-4pm Sat.
An Alternative to Cuts
