UNISON general secretary Dave Prentis and president Wendy Nichols have sent a message to UNISON members in Barnet, North London, striking today over privatisation:
“Today, in a corner of north London, hundreds of council workers are taking a stand against a local authority that is set on the wholesale privatisation of every local service.
“You determined women and men aren’t unreasonable. You’re not asking for the earth. You just want to carry on working for the council – a local authority that is accountable to residents. Not a private company that cares only about shareholder profits.
“So to all the drivers, social workers, occupational therapists, schools catering staff, education welfare officers, library workers, children’s centre workers, street cleaning and refuse workers who are out on strike today, we are with you. We wish you every success in your fight against the tide of privatisation.
“The Barnet formula is bad news for anyone who wants to work in public service. It means zero hours, low-pay, no pension, no future.
“And if Barnet succeeds, then the floodgates will open, and councils everywhere will regard rampant privatisation as the easy option. And that’s something that anyone who cares about local government, and the services it provides to the most vulnerable in our society, does not want to see. Good luck for today.”
