Union in open book policy

The union is keen to hear public opinion

Scotland's biggest trade union is making the unusual move of asking outside bodies to comment on its draft manifesto.

Public services union, Unison, wants to show the document to groups and organisations in the hope of coming up with aims for the future which wider society agrees with.

We will listen to comments and seek to improve the manifesto

Matt Smith, Unison

Its own members will also be part of the manifesto debate.

Matt Smith, Unison's Scottish secretary, said: "We launched our draft public services manifesto for world class public services with MSPs and ministers early in December.

"Now we intend to get it circulated around other Scottish organisations and society, to ask for their comments and their support.

"We will listen to their comments and seek to improve the manifesto and the campaign for public services that we will be continuing."

Private sector

Councils, health trusts and boards, further and higher education institutions, other public bodies, voluntary and campaigning organisations and local and national groups will be sent the document.

Unison has been running a major campaign called Positively Public, which was launched before June's general election.

Unison will consult health trusts and boards

It believes that the people agree with its stance against private sector involvement in the public sector.

A cinema advert, paid for by the union, calls on Prime Minister Tony Blair to note the result of a poll which said 83% of the public are opposed to such a move.

Mr Smith insisted that the figure was higher in Scotland.

"A Mori poll that Unison commissioned at the time of the last election put the Scottish percentage opposed to the private sector running public services at 91%.

"This is clearly a figure that no government can afford to ignore.

"We want to tap into that core support, both to get backing for our campaign from individual groups and organisations, and listen to them regarding possible improvements to the manifesto," he said.

He said the manifesto would also be circulated among the union's our own membership.

"At the end of the day all improvements and suggestions will come back to Unison members for approval," added Mr Smith.