Campaigns
News

'We'll fight tooth and nail for services'

(15/06/08) Local government: Union will 'keep campaigning against privatisation'

Minding the health gap

(12/06/08) Cutting poverty is key to tackling health inequalities, says UNISON

UNISON welcomes government guidance on procurement

(11/06/08) "Buying in should not mean selling out", says Prentis

UNISON rejects private management move for NHS

(04/06/08) "Public service ethos would be severely damaged"
News list >

Positively Public - campaigning for quality public services

What is Positively Public?
Positively Public is UNISON's campaign for quality in our public services, and for recognition of the essential role of public service workers in achieving this.

Positively Public has campaigned on a range of public service issues, from the quality of school meals and hospital cleaning to the promotion of best practice. We have won widespread recognition and support for our evidence-based critiques of policies such as the Private Finance Initiative and have been successful in securing a number of important policy changes.

UNISON's strategy
UNISON has pursued a twin track approach to public service campaigning that opposes the privatisation and marketisation of public services in principle but also recognises that where reforms are going ahead, UNISON must get the best protections for our members.

UNISON campaigns for public services at international, national and local level, working with a diverse range of organisations who share our views on public services.

Campaign Issues
Positively Public challenges the drive to privatise and marketise public services and is currently campaigning across a range of issues and services.

All our evidence and experience shows that once services are run for private profit, the quality of care and service is reduced and the public service ethos is replaced by a hard-nosed profit motive.

Join us campaigning for quality public services.

CONTACT DETAILS
• The UNISON contact for the Positively Public campaign is Margie Jaffe.
Positively Public
1 Mabledon Place
London WC1H 9AJ
Email: positivelypublic@unison.co.uk
Recent documents
PFI – Retention of employment model
Branch guide
The Retention of Employment (ROE) model is a new policy implemented by the Department of Health, covering staff employed in NHS Trusts in England, which are involved in Private Finance Initiative (PFI) schemes. This negotiating guide seeks to explain UNISON policy on ROE; who is affected by ROE; how ROE works; how branches can negotiate before ROE is implemented; how branches can safeguard the interests of staff after ROE.
Link to a PDF document on this siteAcrobat PDF version
Shaping the future
UNISON's vision for public services
The document reaffirms UNISON’s commitment to high quality public services as the basis of a fair, prosperous and democratic society. It argues that because UNISON members work in public services, UNISON has a “dual role” as an advocate for its members and for “the best possible public services, available to all who need them".
Link to a PDF document on this site Shaping the future - UNISON's vision for public services (986165 bytes)
UNISON response to the Health Select Committee inquiry
UNISON Response to the inquiry on: Workforce needs and planning for the health service – March 2006.
Link to a PDF document on this siteAcrobat PDF version
The ingredients for success
How in-house teams are delivering first class services
This report from the Association of Public Service Excellence (APSE) shows public services performing at the highest level. UNISON commissioned it because the debate on public service reform has been long on rhetoric and short on evidence from the front line. For too long the accepted establishment view has been that the private sector has all the wisdom and answers. Inside you will find eight examples, from every part of the UK, of how "in-house" teams are delivering successful services to the highest standards.
Link to a PDF document on this siteAcrobat PDF version
Individual Budgets
The government has said that Individual Budgets should be available to anyone in receipt of social care services. This Fact Sheet explains how Individual Budgets currently work and identifies key concerns around support arrangements, likely costs, impact on services and workforce issues.
Link to a document on this siteIndividual Budgets (358400 bytes)
All Positively Public reports >