Date: Sun 14 August 2011
Edinburgh citizens to get 'long overdue' chance
to quiz politicians on privatisation
Edinburgh citizens will get a 'long overdue' chance
to quiz politicians about the council's privatisation
plans at a public meeting called by unions on Monday
15 August.
As part of the "Our City's Not For Sale" campaign,
the joint council unions have invited all of the
Edinburgh Central ward by election candidates or
party representatives to a hustings to answer the
public's questions on wholesale privatisation plans
and cuts to services.
Labour's Karen Doran, Alasdair Rankine from the
SNP, Independent John Carson, Iain McGill from the
Conservatives and the Green Party's Melanie Green
have all agreed to attend but so far the unions
have had no response from the Liberal Democrats.
"This will be a unique and long overdue chance
for voters to demand answers to the almost secretive
council plans for a £1 billion privatisation of
a whole swathe of Edinburgh's services. While we
hear much about the trams issue, these plans will
dwarf that and have the potential to be far more
costly to the people of Edinburgh", said Kevin Duguid,
secretary of the union's 'staff side' comprising
UNISON, Unite and GMB.
"Judging by the host of meetings on the subject
called by local communities and supported by UNISON
in the last few weeks, we are looking forward to
a lively debate. Despite no response from the Liberal
Democrats so far, we hope they will attend and join
the discussions."
The hustings, in the City Chambers fom 6pm to
8 pm on Monday 15 August, will be chaired by Professor
Lynn Jamieson. Ms Jamieson is a professor at the
School of Social and Political Studies, University
of Edinburgh and a co-director of the Centre for
Research on Families and Relationships. She is a
member of a steering group working on establishing
an international justice and peace centre in Scotland.
The evening will be introduced by John Stevenson,
President of UNISON's City of Edinburgh Branch.
ENDS
For further information www.unison-edinburgh.org.uk/citynotforsale
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