VIEW, Issue two, 2012 Profile


1, What are the current challenges facing UNISON in the community and voluntary sector?


The main challenges are dealing with some employers who do not understand that workers have rights; trying to se- cure decent pay in times of precarious funding, increasingly dealing with job losses and TUPE transfers. And the big issues of core funding and sustainability. Our members are too often diverted into the fight for funding rather than being able to pur- sue their core objectives.


2, Would a reduction in cor- poration tax be beneficial to workers in the community and voluntary sector?


Absolutely not. The trade union movement, collectively, is opposed to this proposition. We have the evidence from the Republic of Ireland that it created tax breaks for the multi-nationals without the obligation to create jobs. Here it will also mean a fur- ther cut to the block grant, fur- ther cuts and job losses. The community and voluntary sector will again be in the frontline.


3, How are the cuts going to affect people in Northern Ireland?


We are increasingly seeing the im- pact. Nearly 4,000 public sector jobs went last year with a knock-on effect on private sector jobs. Last year we dealt with our highest


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We talk to Patricia McKeown, Northern Ireland Regional Secretary of UNISON, about the challenges facing her organisation in the present economic climate


6, Can you explain the rea- sons behind the decision by UNISON members to go on strike on October 5 last year.


picket lines by many of our members in the community and voluntary sector. They felt strongly that their first action should be about the cuts in serv- ices and the impact upon the people.


strong support but the action is only part of a wider campaign about the kind of society we want to live in.


7, What is the best part of your job?


Convincing workers to join a union; knowing that every day in life we have local union reps representing members and trying improve workers’ conditions.


work for a union that is an agent of social change and re- ally does prioritise the most vulnerable people in our so- ciety. We put equality and human rights at the core of our work.


ever number of community and volun- tary sector redundancies and trans- fers.


8, What is the worst part of the job?


Most worrying for this society is the impact of cuts in welfare benefits which will impact on the most vulnerable. This is a UNISON priority.


4, What is UNISON’S view of the Assembly and the parties who approved budget reduc- tions?


We are entitled to ask why we are staring at almost identical cuts to those being imposed by the Conserva- tive-Lib Dem coalition. How we handle a reduction in the block grant is exclu- sively a decision for our own govern- ment. It needs to deliver on its commitments to protect the most vul- nerable.


5, Can the unions on their own stop the cuts?


No. What we really need in this society is a general groundswell of reaction with ordinary people making it clear that they want their rights. We need to work in a much stronger


way with our allies, particularly our al- lies in the community and voluntary sector. There are all sorts of campaigns run- ning across Northern Ireland. They will be most effective when we work to- gether in common cause.


Picture: Kevin Cooper


The part that is never-ending and at times that can be al- most soul-destroying – one step forward and two steps back. We are now faced with the worst cuts ever. We’ve been here before but this time it is a greater challenge.


9, Are you optimistic or pessimistic about the future facing workers?


I’m totally convinced that the trade union movement will still be relevant and thriving in another 100 years.


On October 5, 1911, the Irish socialist James Con- nolly brought the mill work- ers out on strike against exploitation.On the same date in 2011, UNISON mem- bers took action against the cuts.


I’m totally optimistic. The trade union movement is well over 100 years old and it is not going to go away. The UNISON office in Belfast is directly opposite what used to be the York Street mill.


And also knowing that I The public responded with


On that date UNISON members in health and education services came out on strike for the first time in 30 years. They were joined on the


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