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Alliances vital to unite communities against cuts

31 August 2010

It is more vital than ever for unions and communities to unite in the face of the Con-Dem coalition?s vicious cuts programme, with PCS and Unison at the forefront of forming alliances to defend public services.

Plan to protect public services

The Northern Public Services Alliance (PSA), was formed in June in response to the government’s far-reaching cuts programme, to protect public services.

The alliance came about following discussions by 14 unions, including Unison, PCS and Unite at the Northern TUC public sector forum. The meeting focused on making preliminary agreements to set up alliances in all towns and cities.

Aims of alliance

The Northern PSA aims to bring together trade unions, community groups, voluntary and faith groups and those dependent on public services, to discuss how to respond to these threats, to protect and defend our communities.

Simon Elliott, PCS Northern regional secretary, said: “The decision to create the alliance came about following the announcement of the public sector cuts by the Con-Dem government.

“We wanted to campaign effectively against the cuts and achieve maximum unity. We also agreed to work together on issues such as hospital closures and local government cuts, uniting with the public and producing material that concentrates on the threats to the public sector.

“The response has been very positive and everybody is enthused as we all recognise the importance of uniting to fight the cuts.”

Commitment to working with wide range of people

The issues are driven by trade unions but the alliances are also committed to working with a wide range of people beyond the union movement in every town and city.

The alliance, which has organised a series of meetings attracting strong support, is writing to PCS members in the region whose MPs are Liberal Democrats to put pressure on them and ask for meetings to oppose the Civil Service Compensation Scheme legislation.

Alliances have so far been created in Newcastle, Northumberland, north and south Tyneside, Durham and Teesside, a Cumbrian alliance began in early August, and others are planned for the north west, the east and south east.

There are demonstrations planned by the alliance in Newcastle and Middlesbrough on 29 September against the threat of 50,000 job losses in the region.