Features
USEFUL WEBSITES
|
The people of the North East are about to vote on the future of their region. Nathalie Towner explains why UNISON is backing the yes campaign in its bid for devolution
Time to devolve?
The ballot papers for the North East referendum on devolution have now
been sent out. Voters in the region will be deciding if an elected regional
assembly should be set up and the final decision will be announced on
4 November. Other referendums in Yorkshire and Humber and in the North
West have been postponed so the North East is leading the devolution process
for the English regions.
UNISON is actively campaigning as part of the North East yes campaign
and has put in a lot of work over the past few years.
“A devolved government will give a voice to this region,”
said UNISON regional secretary, Gill Hale, “decisions will not be
made on our behalf in Whitehall”.
A North East Assembly could represent the region in Brussels, lobbying
for the region at the European level. It would have a budget to carry
out its responsibilities, with flexibility about how to spend it and influencing
role on how other funds are spent.
The regional assembly in the North East will have control of more than
£1billion of public money and have strategic powers over transport;
skills; housing; environment; culture; tourism and sport.
“Our key campaigning issue is that decisions about the North East
should be made in the North East,” reiterated Hale.
“In the past lots of situations could have been handled better if
we had had a directly elected assembly instead of Whitehall making the
decisions.”
Hale talks of the disastrous effect the pit closures had on the rural
areas and how a regional assembly would have been able to come up with
more creative solutions.
“We’re already looking at how a regional assembly would deal
with the Gershon review (of public sector efficiency) and the Chancellor’s
comprehensive spending review.
“Public sector jobs are not being relocated to our region and we
should be able to respond to this and do something about it. There is
so little industry providing alternative jobs that nearly 30% of those
employed here are in the public sector.”
Hale is determined to see UNISON as a key player in a devolved government.
She believes a regional assembly responsible for economic growth will
boost employment, bring in quality jobs and promote prosperity. The influence
a regional assembly would have on the local economy would help ensure
that the work that is available is skilled, reasonably well-paid and sustainable.
She is keen to see the assembly use its powers to improve the skills base
in the region.
“For too long we have lagged behind other regions and we really
need to do something about this.”
The assembly would oversee the region development agencies, the local
learning and skills councils, local training organisations, colleges and
employers and ensure the right training is on offer for the workforce.
For those critics who say it would just create another layer of bureaucracy
Hale points out that an unelected regional assembly already exists.
“We are concerned with what we’ve got at the moment as the
regional government is just made up of hundreds of unelected agencies
and quangos who spend vast amounts of government money. If we had a directly
elected assembly they would have to be accountable.”
The current organisations spend about £350 million a year but people
in the North East have no direct say over them or their decisions.
Hale is particularly keen to explain how devolution will change the face
of politics in the region and allow for the increased involvement of trade
unions.
“We’ve been quite involved with the existing assembly trying
to see how we can involve regional partners,” she said, ‘As
the assembly will be quite small (an assembly in the North East would
have around 25 members) they will have to consider the views of all participants”.
Hale would expect a new assembly to fully represent the people of the
region as other devolved governments have succeeded in doing.
“The Welsh Assembly was the first elected government in the world
to have an equal number of men and women and we hope to follow this.
“We expect all the political parties to ensure an equal number of
women are put forward and one of our key campaigning issues is to ensure
the regional assembly operates a family friendly policy.”
UNISON local government services groups will also be addressing the reorganisation
of local authorities that will take place if a regional assembly is elected.
“As reorganisation occurs we will fight to ensure our members interests
are protected,” explained Hale.
The yes campaign group are confident they are getting their message across
with a recent poll showing they were two to one ahead.
“When people engage with the issues and really understand what it
is all about they are usually supportive of the yes campaign,” said
Hale explaining why it was so important for UNISON members to get out
and explain to people what is going on.
“A regional assembly will not solve all of the problems or give
us all of the answers but we have to start somewhere,” she said.
|
SUCCESS STORIES |
LOTS MORE FEATURESIncluding stress in the workplace, getting out of debt and the pensions crisis more... |
© Copyright 2008
