 An Alternative to Cuts
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
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North West TUC
National
Protest March outside
Conservative Party
Conference, Manchester
Sunday 2nd October
2011
Manchester for the alternative:
Jobs··Growth··Justice
Click
here for latest (TUC website)
Click here to download the leaflet.
Click
here to download poster
Click
here for
March update
Click
here for Cuts
Hurt leaflet
Click
here for
Survival guide |
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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.
Click here to download the leaflet. |
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Click here to
download the North West TUC "Say No To Cuts" flyer.
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download the UNISON NW "Speak up for Public Services" flyer
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Click here to
download branch AGM publicity material
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download UNISON NW's Alternative to Austerity Cuts flyer
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download flyer
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Placard Posters (A3) Size
Click here to download the
above posters.
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
Click here for the 26 March 2011 Photo Gallery |
