UNISONActive is an unofficial blog produced by UNISON activists for UNISON activists. Bringing news, briefings and events from a progressive left perspective.

Monday 6 September 2010

Wales could be decimated by Con Dem cuts‏

A BBC investigation confirm that Wales could be more vulnerable to spending cuts than other parts of the UK because of the high proportion of people employed in the public sector:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-11151909

Spending on public services per head of the population in Wales is among the highest of any part of the UK. 344,000 people in Wales work in the public sector, approximately 25% of all employees.

Steve Thomas, chairman of the Welsh Local Government Association (WLGA) made the important point – equally applicable to other de-industrialised parts of the UK -

“The public sector is the default employer in Wales, we are in the situation, especially with the running down of heavy industry, and the end of inward investment, that the public sector in Wales actually does the job of the private sector in England - particularly in terms of economic development."

No trade union view is reported although invariably the jackals of the public services industrial complex are quick to exploit the situation "hopefully it will lead to a Wales where the role of the private sector is more greatly valued by some in the public sector" commented David Rosser, director of the CBI in Wales.