Coalition has ‘declared war on our people’
Today UNISON general secretary Dave Prentis told the TUC Congress that now
was the ‘time for action’ to end the government’s damaging austerity
measures.
He addressed Congress to make the case for– ‘A future that works’ – urging
the TUC to renew its fight aginst the government’s unwelcome and failing
austerity agenda, and promising coordinated action if they refuse.
He said that the 20 October Demonstration must be a ‘launch pad’ for an
organised, united campaign against austerity.
Saying the coalition had ‘declared war on our people’ through the pay freeze,
pushing workers closer and closer to economic oblivion while the rich remain
untouched, he added that industrial action would be the inevitable response
that if the government refuses to bring an end to austerity.
The full speech can be found below:
“At the start I want to pay tribute, like Brendan, to the fantastic athletes who
made the Olympics so successful and the volunteers, but Congress I also want
to pay tribute to the 80,000 women, men and children in the Olympic stadium
who showed George Osborne exactly what they thought of him.
“The day George Osborne was rumbled and the crowd who spoke for all of us
weren’t booing pantomime villains, but real life villains who are destroying
Britain.
“Tory Britain; an economy in crisis; the longest recession for 50 years; 625
public service jobs gone every single day of this coalition – and more to come;
the worst child poverty record of any government for a generation.
“A Britain where last week Save The Children, an international charity,
launched an appeal to help UK families plunged into poverty by cuts and
recession. Stories of kids going without hot meals, winter clothes, missing out
on school trips. Working families struggling with rocketing prices,
plummeting pay.
“An Oxfam report warning of inequality in Britain not seen since Victorian
times – heart rending stories that shame this government and anyone who
supports it.
“And in Britain – walk down any high street, open any newspaper, turn on the
TV, legalised loan sharks offering pay-day loans, interest rates reaching
4000%. An industry that is now worth £2bn a year, and six in ten using money
to pay their household bills or to buy essentials, trapping families in a
downward spiral of debt and despair.
“Our people. Our kids.
“The cost of food going up again by another 10%, the cost of gas and electric
rising even more. We know, Congress, that it takes just a £50 increase in
monthly outgoings, and that would plunge one third of families into financial
ruin.
“Britain is changing beyond recognition.
“Employment rights are under attack, sacking workers to be made easier than
ever before. Britain where ‘sit alone’ judges –not tribunals – decide unfair
dismissal claims; where ‘zero hours’ contracts are all the norm.
“A world where bankers with no shame are now speculating on food prices as
millions face starvation.
“Britain where everything is up for sale: our NHS, our care services, our
education services – essential services being privatised.
“£27bn of contracts are to be signed in the coming year alone – despite the
scandals, despite the failures. A4E; Southern Cross; G4S; ATOL and its
discredited benefits tests; and failed council contracts.
“And the Tories, the Tories, with no road to recovery, know their policies
aren’t working, and are using austerity, the recession to destroy our public
services, to destroy our welfare state. Without austerity, they couldn’t
privatise our NHS, privatise policing, close libraries, attack the hard-won
rights of working people.
“A coalition which has declared war on our people – our people facing a third
year of pay freeze. Living standards slashed, while the rich and the powerful
remain untouched.
“And congress this is the point: it is our job to lead the fight back. To protect
our heritage. To defend that fairer society that those who went before us
fought for. To fight for a future that works. To ensure that 20 October is the
biggest anti-cuts demonstration in our history. A day that will give hope to
our people, hope for a better, fairer society.
“And the 20 October has to be more – much more than just a march. It must
be a launch pad for our campaign against austerity. After that day we must
march on, united, coordinated.
“The Tory posh boys think our members are afraid – afraid of losing their
jobs, afraid of asking for better pay. But it’s our job as leaders, as trade
unionists, to raise them up, and to show our members what they are really
worth.
“And as a TUC we must be out there campaigning, organising, building a
movement, building alliances of all unions.
“We are never stronger than when we coordinate industrial action, when we
speak with one voice. Yes, we will seek decent pay, fair pay. Yes, we will
negotiate – that is what our membership expect us to do.
“But make no mistake, if employers refuse to negotiate; if the attacks
continue – we will deliver the coordinated action which is called for in this
composite.
“Now is the time for action.
