20 June 2003
The government and Unison were back on a collision course this week after the prime minister announced that more services would be 'opened up' to the private sector and the union warned of strike action over his reforms.
As relations between Tony Blair and Unison general secretary Dave Prentis grow increasingly bitter, the prime minister chose the week of the union's annual conference to deliver his speech on the 'next progressive steps for Britain'.
Building heavily on his 'best when boldest' rhetoric at last year's Labour Party conference, he took a shot at the unions, warning that any attempts to quell his reforms could lead to a return of the Right.
In a speech to the Fabian Society on June 17, Blair said the government would now be pushing forward with fundamental, systemic change. 'Our aim is to open up the system – to end the one-size-fits all model of public service with little diversity - from elsewhere in the public sector and from the voluntary and private sector.'
Blair said extending choice for NHS patients was a key aspect of this and he announced that there would be an agenda for choice in surgery before the summer recess and one for primary care before the autumn.
Blair's comments are likely to further inflame Unison, which rejected cutting its ties with Labour in a crucial vote on June 18.
Prentis warned the government that its campaigns against foundation trusts and the use of the private sector would remain uncompromising. 'Anyone in government who thought [the local government] strike was just about pay – think again. It was about a demoralised workforce sick of being undervalued, tired of Best Value reviews. Tired of the brave new world of public services where profit is king and markets and competition rule.'
He said that Unison would take action again if the government failed to fund its pay reforms such as Agenda for Change. Prentis said he was seeking an urgent meeting with new Health Secretary John Reid over foundation trusts and for the two-tier local government deal to be extended to health.
PFjun2003
