Community and social care issues were prominent in motions at this week's annual Trades Union Congress in Brighton.
The National Union of Teachers called for the government to fully fund the cost of reforms to children's services. It also voiced concerns over the government's city academies programme, saying the academies would fail to provide educational support to vulnerable communities.
Public sector union Unison, while welcoming increased investment in public services, vowed to continue its opposition to greater privatisation.
The Prison Officers' Association said the foundation on which the National Offender Management Service was constructed was "fundamentally flawed", and said the privatisation of prisons and probation services was a "distraction".
The Community and Youth Workers' Union called for the government to recruit 4,000 youth workers, and for the introduction of a system of regulation and continuous professional development.
