The Swindon local elections on 3 May 2018 will be crucial to the future of residents and UNISON members.
Labour group leader Jim Grant writes for UNISON Labour Link
Labour only need to win four seats in order to become the majority party on the Council. We have done unprecedented levels of work so far to achieve this but there’s still more to do.
Policies that a Labour council would deliver should we become the majority party include
- Building 230 new council houses.
- Keeping Swindon’s most treasured Country Park, Lydiard Park & House, under Council ownership and management. The Conservative Council had sought to transfer Lydiard Park & House to an external organisation.
- Ensuring all Swindon Council employees are paid the Real Living Wage rate (as set by the Living Wage Foundation) and none are on zero hours contracts.
- Promoting the Real Living Wage (as set by the Living Wage Foundation) and the ending of zero hours contracts in both the public & private sectors in Swindon.
- Increasing facility time among union reps in Swindon Borough Council and Local schools. Giving Unison reps more time to represent their members.
- The Council signing up to the UNISON Ethical Care Charter.
- No outsourcing of any Council services and insourcing the Council’s wholly-owned Economic Development company.
- Reintroducing Sure Start Children’s Centres.
- Adopting the Preston-based Community Wealth Building Programme. This scheme will invest more public resources in the local economy through public sector procurement and will ensure council contractors have to use fair employment practices.
Can we win the Swindon local elections?
All help Trade Union members can give to our local election campaign will be greatly appreciated and will help towards getting a Council that supports its workers and seeks to achieve a fairer society.
Finally, I would like to thank UNISON for their very kind support for Labour’s Swindon local elections campaign. This will add real value to our campaign.
