The
UK’s business leaders have been told they are not the answer to all the
country’s problems – and it is not right that the Government expects them to
be.
Speaking
at the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) conference in Manchester, Unison
general secretary Dave Prentis told delegates: "The private sector and
competition are not the solution to every issue we face. It is unfair of
ministers to put you in that position."
Prentis
said modernisation of service delivery is a tough nut to crack and doesn’t
permit quick fixes: "Unison is happy to see investment matched by
modernisation," he said. "The real issue between us is what kind of
modernisation?
"I
say the kind that will deliver the improvements our communities need, not based
on private sector needs and profits.
"Competition
might lower costs, but it is also at the cost of quality. It is co-operation
that improves the real quality of public services."
