Union calls on public to help prevent job cuts

Some 690,000 people are employed in the public sector in the North-West, giving work to one in four in the region employed in services such as school, hospitals, highway maintenance, libraries, social care, housing and youth support.

Unite fears that with the Government threatening to create a 25% hole in public spending this year, jobs in both sectors, services and community support will be badly hit.

The union is calling upon people in the region to join the mass lobby of Parliament being organised by trade unions for October 19th – the eve of the Comprehensive Spending Review when Chancellor George Osborne looks likely to unveil the deepest budgetary cuts for many years.

Unite regional secretary Paul Finegan said: “This is the fight of our lives. The old, the vulnerable, the low waged, children, women, people with disabilities, minority communities will be disproportionately hit by cuts that are neither fair nor necessary.

“The Government has made it clear that it is determined to cut fast and deep into public spending and hang the consequences for jobs, communities and the people who depend on services. It is a reckless strategy, and one which will hobble the private sector too.”

Unite is warning that an aggressive reduction in public spending will shrink the economy, reverse the prospect of recovery and see many jobs go in the private sector too.

On Tuesday, October 19th, workers will rally at Westminster Central Hall, London, followed by a lobby of Parliament. Unite is working with other unions in the North-West to bring those who want to appeal directly to ministers and MPs. Those interested in joining the convoy to London can find out how by visiting www.unitetheunion.org.