Speak up for Public Services - lobby of Parliament on 23 January

The Speak up for Public Services rally and lobby is due to take place on Tuesday 23 January 2007 in two Westminster locations, the Houses of Parliament and Methodist Central Hall.

Hundreds of civil servants, teachers, local government workers and health service employees from all over the UK will be coming to London to tell MPs of union fears over the future of public services, and in particular the increasing involvement of private sector firms and the need for continued investment.

Public sector employees will be telling their MPs that while they believe there is always going to be room for improvement in the UK’s vital public services, any advances must come about as a result of increased investment and working with staff, not the involvement of the private sector.

Lobbyists descending on Westminster will want to meet with their MPs to talk about their worries over the Government’s insistence that healthcare, education and criminal justice can be run like profit-driven businesses. Public sector employees attending Speak up for Public Services believe that this approach is wrong.

The Speak up for Public Services lobby starts at 11.30am, and the rally across Parliament Square in Methodist Central Hall, at midday. A full list of speakers - including senior union spokespeople and public sector employees - will be confirmed in the new year.