Why it's so important to speak up now.

The recession has hit the government's finances hard and public debt has grown. Some are now arguing that we will have to cut the amount the government spends on public services. Pressure on politicians and policy-makers NOW will make them think twice before seeing cuts and privatisation as the easy option.

What's more, when times are tough we need good local services more than ever. They help support communities, help people back into work, help give our children the best start in life and help care for our sick and elderly. And by putting money into local services, we help kick-start economic growth. Big spending cuts are not inevitable; they are a political choice that you can speak out against.

What can 'a million voices for public services' achieve?

Speaking out encourages politicians to consider real alternatives to cuts and privatisation of public services. Taxing the banks and financial institutions that caused the credit crunch in the first place is one example. And we could make our tax system fairer - ending tax avoidance that allows the very wealthy to get out of paying their share. It's not just UNISON saying this. Many economists are warning that large scale cuts now could push the economy back into recession. Getting people back to work and getting our economy growing will allow the government to pay back the money it has borrowed.

So let's make some noise

We are already making a difference. In the general election campaign all major political parties promised that service delivery would not suffer, something we now need to hold them to. And at a local level, communities are challenging councils' plans for cuts and closures and successfully finding new solutions. There's lots you can do too.

Got 1 minute? Add your voice by clicking on the 'Speaking out' tab above.

Got 5 minutes? Click on 'Share this site' below to spread the word on Facebook or Twitter

Got 10 minutes? Talk to your friends, family or work colleagues about how public service cuts could affect their community.

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Why is UNISON campaigning?

UNISON is Britain's biggest public service trade union and represents more than a million voices delivering essential services to the public. Services that protect, enrich and change lives. But our members don't just work in public services - they and their families rely on them too.

We believe that cutting back public service spending and putting our services in the hands of private companies through more privatisation puts all our communities at risk. UNISON is speaking up for public services and for the people who provide them. That's why we are campaigning at a national, regional and local community level to make the case for properly-funded, publicly-provided local services.