Unison seeks pledges from policy makers

Unison has launched its Charter for the Public Services 2001 and
hopes to get policy makers, the voluntary sector and employers to
sign up to its 25 pledges.

The charter builds on the six key principles of its pubic
services manifesto: democratic accountability, effective delivery,
adequate funding, equality of access, fairness at work, and
partnership at work.

It includes a commitment to public authorities providing
services “by consulting freely with public and staff without
compelling them always to find cost savings, as has been the
unfortunate experience under Best Value”.

It also calls for councils to continue to have the lead role in
directly providing public services and for staff training and
development to increase in order to deliver improved and modernised
services.