Speak up for Public Services - lobby of Parliament on 23 January

Hundreds of civil servants, teachers, local government workers and health service employees from all over the UK will be coming to London in January to tell MPs of union fears over the future of public services, and in particular the increasing involvement of private sector firms and the need for continued investment.

Speak up for Public Services - a TUC co-ordinated rally and lobby of Parliament involving all 28 affiliates with members across the public sector - is being launched today (Thursday) as the TUC's Public Services Liaison Group meets to finalise plans for the January event.

The Speak up for Public Services rally and lobby is due to take place on Tuesday 23 January 2007 in two Westminster locations, the Houses of Parliament and Methodist Central Hall.

Public sector employees will be telling their MPs that while they believe there is always going to be room for improvement in the UK's vital public services, any advances must come about as a result of increased investment and working with staff, not the involvement of the private sector.

Lobbyists descending on Westminster will want to meet with their MPs to talk about their worries over the Government's insistence that healthcare, education and criminal justice can be run like profit-driven businesses. Public sector employees attending Speak up for Public Services believe that this approach is wrong.

The Speak up for Public Services lobby starts at 11.30am, and the rally across Parliament Square in Methodist Central Hall, at midday. A full list of speakers - including senior union spokespeople and public sector employees - will be confirmed in the new year.

TUC General Secretary Brendan Barber said: "Public sector workers are hugely committed to the vital services they provide day in day out. But they increasingly doubt whether the Government truly values the distinct public sector ethos that motivates public servants and is threatened by the growing involvement of the private sector. The message to MPs in January will be, let us continue to do what we do best and continue to serve the public, not shareholders and company bosses."

The TUC has launched a dedicated lobby website www.tuc.org.uk/speakup where lobbyists can download posters and flyers to promote local groups' travel plans to London.

NOTES 
The TUC unions involved in Speak up for Public Services on 23 January 2007 are ACM, AEP, AMICUS, ASPECT, ATL, BDA, BOS, CDNA, CSP, CYWU, EIS, FDA, FBU, GMB, HCSA, NAPO, NASUWT, NUT, PCS, POA, PROSPECT, SCP, SOR, TGWU, UCAC, UCATT, UCU and UNISON.

[Ed:  Note that the BMA will not be supporting this campaign and rally whilst the dentists will be.  Perhaps it is beneath them or are they trying to mend fences with the government by licking boots?]

(14/12/06)