From UNISON Active
Following Dave Prentis’ rallying of health delegates to the National Health conference, there was a rousing demo on the concourse outside the Echo Arena. Speakers from across Europe pledged solidarity in the fight to defend public services and public sector workers.
It was such a disappointment that such euphoria created by the huge demo on 26th March, Dave’s call to arms, and a buzzing rally should be dampened by lame and lukewarm response by the shadow Health Secretary, John Healey. His speech merely poured cold water on the optimism and confidence of delegates.
Healey’s address was peppered with praise for New Labour’s failed policies of the past. He said he was proud that Labour had created Foundation Trusts who were freed from central control. There was no apology for the burden of PFI debt placed on the health economy and he believed it was a real achievement of the last government in opening up health to competition from the private sector.
Even during the Q&A session Healey failed to give any commitment to reversing the attacks on the NHS.
Delegates although polite throughout were clearly feeling uncomfortable about the future of the service if John Healey becomes secretary of state for health.
What is clear is, that if UNISON defeats the ConDem government’s plans for the NHS the next fight will be to convince Labour that there is no room for the free market in our NHS.
Unison as union and its members have to realise they are facing three major capitalist parties in Parliament all of them including “Labour” agree that the NHS should be carved up to benefit the profiteers and more than this all of them agree that the working class must be made to pay for the crisis. They may disagree slightly about how fast the pain is inflicted, but none of them is prepared to defend workers’ living standards. There is not even a chance that “Labour” can be “rescued” for some cause other than slavish devotion to the capitalist class as all forms of democracy and accountability within the organisation have been carefully removed. The next question is will Unison and its members be part of forming a new socialist party to defend workers interests?