What do you get when you cross guerrilla projections, a hospital, a library, newspapers and a hard-hitting TV advert? You get the latest phase in UNISON’s Million Voices campaign.
Public buildings and major tourist attractions in London, Birmingham and Manchester will be lit up this week with the union’s latest campaign advert, bringing to life the reality of public sector cuts.
The adverts, a 60 and 40 second film, one aimed at potential members and the other at the public, graphically depict the campaign’s key theme – how life is changed for the worse when public sector jobs are cut.
Over the next three weeks, the advert will be seen by millions of people as it is rolled out across television, national and local newspapers, and online across social networking sites.
Dave Prentis, UNISON General Secretary, said:
“Public sector cuts are looming large, and UNISON’s new ads shine a light on the story behind the facts and figures. The human cost of cuts is people left without vital services. Emergency call centre operators, forensic experts, hospital porters, nurses and social workers all provide the services people need and rely on.
“Why should hard-working people pay for the recession when the bankers who caused this crisis are still getting billion pound bonuses? It is not right that services are being axed when the super-rich can bend the rules and avoid paying their fair share of tax.
“Projecting an alternative future without essential public service workers, brings to life the reality of cutting public services. In the latest stage of the Million Voices campaign, UNISON is calling on the public to join us in standing up for local services, to make the politicians think again about the consequences of making cuts.”
The film was produced by Dominic Gaughan, shot by the up-and-coming director, Anthony Wilcox, who is first assistant director to Michael Winterbottom (three times nominated for Cannes’ Palme d’Or) along with Danny Cohen (Director of Photography on BAFTA British Film of the Year 2009, This is England).
UNISON commissioned the Good Agency to develop the campaign, and MI media for media planning.
The 60 second advert will be projected onto ten public buildings and tourist attractions in London (8 March), Birmingham (9 March) and Manchester (10 March).
People have got a right to know what is going to happen in their communities, and UNISON has set up a website where people can put their postcode into an interactive map and see information about how local services, such as schools, hospitals, care homes, libraries and town halls could be cut.