Leaked plans to turn libraries into Charity like shops.

We have a large membership in the Bristol Libraries and they are a wonderful knowledgeable group of people whom most of the citizens of Bristol appreciate. The thought of losing libraries is an an emotional one for many users, but to lose the libraries to a charitable status and run them like charity shops with volunteers, makes a mockery of the qualified staff who currently work in them. They are a wondrous vibrant group of individuals who are usually at the cutting edge of new information and are an invaluable local resource.

The staff who currently give their time to charity shops should not be forgotten, but the library service is the back bone of our treasured information and written history and the library preserves things that would have long been lost. I am hoping the library UNISON members will do a small article of the history of this great resource.

All civilised societies from the dawn of time have found it essential to have libraries, why now do we choose to abandon this tradition.

Jackie

"Public Service spin-offs"

You might be forgiven for thinking what exactly is a Public Sector spin off, but by any other name it is privatisation. No mention at all how the year on year cuts will affect not only the new ideas, or the spin on the old, but see here for the new Pathfinder Initiatives lead by Francis Maude. Whose behind it well those lovely consultants that cost a fortune for every Local Authority to be told how to kick start "Transformation" KMPG and PriceWaterhouseCooper.

Jackie

The Sheriff's of Nottinghamshire, we will all have to be Robin Hoods.

All UNISON members should have an eye to what is happening in Nottinghamshire, see here for link, if the Tory run council get their way we will all undoubtedly follow a similar route. They started by cutting 1,500 jobs and then decided to add another 1,500 jobs bringing the total to 3,000.

Jackie

Clegg in charge or is he?

With Clegg in full control whilst Cameron is on his holidays, back benchers from the Tory party remind him he will be fine as long as he doesn't stray from Government policy, so much for the Liberals making an impact on the Coalition then, see here for what he plans to do with his time and how the Lib Dem popularity continues to decline significantly.

Jackie

Are you green?

For many of our members interested in the environment and our planet, the coalition Government may be planning a u-turn on green house emissions standards, please see here for the full story on coal fire power stations being built.

Jackie

Work till your 72 now!!!!

This article deals with the possibility of raising retirement age to 72 and in acknowledgement that working people live shorter lifespans than the rich, wait for it, see here they may increase the pension amount payable to those that have a shorter life span. What's the point have having more money for less time fails to impress me I'm afraid, what do you think?

Jackie

What is going to get cut?

Many UNISON members want direct information about what the cuts will mean to them in terms of their Public Sector Job, here is the most recent up todate department by department cuts the ConDems plan for each one. It does not make for easy reading and if you are a Public Sector worker you will be in here somewhere.

Jackie