Accusing British Prime Minister Tony Blair of failing to live up to promises regarding the privatization of public services and the resulting creation of a two-tiered public workforce (see WIT?s for April 16, and June 26, 2002), Britain?s largest trade union Unison is promising a major revolt at this year?s Labour Party conference. Made to avoid a similar revolt at last year?s conference, Blair?s promises led to a code of practice for private contractors providing government service that union leaders say has failed to prevent the erosion of terms and conditions for new hires from the levels enjoyed by previously government-employed workers. Unison?s leaders are demanding that the government suspend its Private Finance Initiative until an independent study is conducted to prove that privatization is providing better value for cost to the public, and are preparing to table a motion to this effect at next week?s annual Trades Union Congress conference.
See DAVID TURNER and CHRISTOPHER ADAMS, Financial Times, September 8, 2002