Other STUC Publications

Avoidable, Unfair and Regressive

“The Coalition Government is fundamentally misleading the country over the economic impact of its austerity programme. Our new publication, 'Avoidable, Unfair and Regressive' argues that the current approach is wrong-headed. The budget will impact heavily on the private sector, snuff out recovery and hit the poor hardest.

“The endless repetition of the “cut now” mantra is infecting public opinion even as the polls show massive majorities for protecting the largest spending areas of health, education and spending on the elderly. If the government keeps to its threat to cut on the one hand and promise to ring fence on the other, many public authorities will struggle to meet statutory obligations, not to mention their responsibilities under equality legislation.
“A key aim of this campaign is to nail the myths being peddled by the Coalition Government, but we are calling on Scottish and local government to show leadership by fully engaging in a campaign to oppose the austerity measures. Of course they will have to consider their own budgets, but one dimensional consultation exercises on where cuts should fall will not suffice for Scottish communities which need more leadership at this time of crisis.

“But this is not a narrow anti-cuts campaign, it is a Better Way campaign. STUC will offer the chance for Scotland’s communities and voluntary organisations to come together to campaign alongside STUC for 'A Better Way' and to play a major role in shaping its direction."

“We are already attracting widespread support from Scotland’s communities and voluntary organisations. And we mean over coming months to provide a genuine platform for community opinion in stark contrast to the divide and conquer “what would you cut” exercises being undertaken by governments at various levels.”
Download the 'Avoidable, Unfair and Regressive' publication