Unions dismiss Tory co-op plans

18 Feb 10
Public sector workers have reacted sceptically to Conservative proposals for a new generation of staff-owned, not-for-profit public service providers
By David Williams

18 February 2010

Public sector workers have reacted sceptically to Conservative proposals for a new generation of staff-owned, not-for-profit public service providers.

Shadow chancellor George Osborne revealed the plans on February 15, claiming they would trigger the ‘most significant shift in power from the state to working people since the sale of council houses in the 1980s’.

But the move was dismissed by the Public and Commercial Services union as ‘a bit of a gimmick’, while Unite feared the plans would undermine joined-up working between health, social work and education.

Gail Cartmail, Unite’s assistant general secretary for the public sector, added that collective agreements for teachers, health staff and council workers would have to be broken up.

Unison chief Dave Prentis called the plans ‘just another Tory Party plan to break up public services, plunge them into confusion and then let the private sector pick over their bones’.

But some commentators saw more potential in the plans. Graeme Nuttall, a partner with law firm Field Fisher Waterhouse, said the model had worked in the public sector. He cited Central Surrey Health, a mutual set up to provide local nursing and therapy services. But he said it was unclear how the proposals would tie in to existing procurement rules.

Under the Conservative plan, employees could form co-operative enterprises to provide public services. These would have to meet national standards, but would be freed from ‘centralised bureaucracy and political micromanagement’.

Did you enjoy this article?

AddToAny

Top