Labour reforms face union attack

Eyes are turning to the post-Blair era

Reforms of hospitals, education and other public services are facing a major attack from trade unions.

In a motion for next month's Trades Union Congress, Unison says the use of private firms in public services is "harmful, wasteful, and unjust".

The big four UK trade unions are also trying to shape Labour policies for when Tony Blair steps down.

They are hosting a fringe meeting under the title of "new leader, new agenda" as they look to Mr Blair's successor.

Competition fears

The TUC congress in Brighton marks the start of the political conference season, which will see the prime minister come under pressure to make clear his departure intentions.

Unison, the country's biggest union, says it is not concentrating on any forthcoming change in leadership.

Instead, it wants to use the conference to attack current government policies causing anger among public service workers.

The union has tabled a motion which says the government's reforms have "rapidly become a fundamental attack on the role of the public sector".

Public services are being sold-off in "competitive" processes that discriminate against the public sector, says the motion.

"There is no role for markets in public services because they are harmful, wasteful, and unjust," it adds.

Fat cat claims

Unison general secretary Dave Prentis said: "The message for Health Secretary Patricia Hewitt and the government will be 'let's stop and take stock'.

"They cannot carry on with this continual circus of reforms when all it means is bringing the private sector in so they can make profits."

In an amendment to the motion, the GMB says: "There is ample evidence of fat-cat racketeers exploiting workers and the public alike - they should be named and shamed."

Ms Hewitt has said that using a range of providers has helped deliver faster and better treatment while ensuring treatment is available to everybody, free at the point of care.

Labour has paid off loans of about £6m but still has outstanding debts of £22m and the Conservatives say the unions are demanding more from a party which is more reliant on them for money.

Mr Blair has always insisted the unions will get no special favours.

The Transport and General Workers Union (T&G) says it is joining Amicus, Unison and the GMB to host a congress fringe meeting entitled "new leader, new agenda".

A T&G spokesman told BBC News: "Obviously we are going to have a new leader of the Labour Party and obviously we will need to have a new agenda and new policies for the future of the party and hopefully for the future of the British government."