Women Against Cuts

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Conference
2015 National Women's Conference
Date
16 October 2014
Decision
Carried as Amended

This Conference remains opposed to all cuts in Public Services.

We totally reject any employer asserting that cuts are inevitable. Kirklees Council have consistently underspent over the last 11 years, and like many Councils, could ‘save’ millions of pounds by maintaining all services ‘in house’, having a public service procurement policy, cutting private sector involvement in public service delivery and having no further private consultancy companies being paid to ‘offer’ support and advice and in-house training.

Women suffer disproportionately from cuts. They play a vital role in our economy as both workers and consumers and the cuts are having a major impact on women’s incomes and well-being.

As women make up 65% of the work force, all job cuts and pay freezes in the public sectors will have a greater impact on women’s lives.

Conference notes that the National Women’s Committee were asked to report to the 2015 Women’s Conference with the amount of women members who have been made redundant due to cuts in the public sector. This will carry the painful truth of the Government’s austerity programme.

However, where jobs and services have been won, it has been through our own union organisation and commitment to campaigning amongst our members, joint union working and within the community.

Conference calls on the National Women’s Committee to continue the initiative agreed at last year’s Conference to work with the Women’s Committees and other UNISON Structures in a renewed campaign to highlight the impact of cuts on women and to highlight the need for greater public investment.