A guide to campaigning in the general election

2017

2

2 Introduction

3 UNISON’s general election campaign plan

4 Get involved

6 Lobbying Act compliance

6 Next steps

7 Why we need a change of government

7 Useful links and contacts

Although the Tories and much of the media would have us believe that the outcome of the general election on 8 June 2017 is a foregone conclusion, there is much to play for. This campaign guide is for UNISON branches and members. It provides information to help UNISON activists and members get involved in the campaign to kick the Tories out.

In terms of public services, the jobs of UNISON members and the living standards of all working people, there could not be more at stake. An emboldened Tory government will implement more cuts, resulting in an ever more challenging time for public services and those that provide them.

But we know that more cuts would be deeply unpopular with the public. Over the coming weeks we have an opportunity to spell out what this election means for the NHS, local government, our schools, policing and all our other public services. We must take it.

Introduction Contents

A guide to campaigning for public services

General election briefing

2017

3

UNISON’s general election campaign plan has three main strands.

Keep public services at the top of the political agenda

The Tories want this election to be all about delivering a big mandate for EU exit negotiations. UNISON’s Public Service Champions campaign gives us an opportunity to keep cuts to public services at the top of the political agenda – so that the general election is not just fought on the Tories’ favoured turf.

To these ends the Public Service Champions campaign includes an advertising campaign, across press, social media (including short films) and outside billboard advertising. The adverts contrast the value the public attaches to public services with the testimonies of UNISON members about the challenges of delivering public services after nearly 10 years of cuts.

www.publicservicechampions.org

Because of spending restrictions we cannot run the adverts throughout the election period. The adverts run until early May. At this point other materials and ideas produced for the campaign can be used locally by you and your colleagues to keep public services in the election debates.

Talk to UNISON members about the importance of voting and the issues at stake

We are at our most effective when we focus on talking to our own members about the issues UNISON has real authority to speak on – public services and the jobs and financial pressures faced by those who provide them.

Involving our own members in the debate gives us a powerful voice to speak up for public services. Members will be provided with the tools to question candidates and canvassers who knock on their doors. And we need to direct them to opportunities to volunteer and campaign at a local level in their own time.

Focus resources on key electoral battlegrounds

UNISON will ensure that our resources are used as efficiently and effectively as possible. Although members across the union will want to be active where they live, we should, where possible, be prepared to direct volunteers towards locations where their efforts will make the greatest difference.

Further information about target seats will be communicated through regions and local Labour parties.

UNISON’s general election campaign plan

I couldn’t cope without my

care workerMargaret, recovering from hip operation

I can’t cope with being a care workerAlysha, home care worker

Making a difference to lives like Margaret’s is so rewarding, it’s why I got into this job. But because of cost cutting, care visits are often restricted to 15 minutes – there’s not even time for us to chat. I’m sometimes the only person she sees all day! Social care is in crisis and vulnerable people are suffering the most.

#backyourchampions

Your public services are in crisis. Tweet, share, vote, say thanks – whatever you do, do it now. Get involved at publicservicechampions.org

Based on personal testimonies. Funded by UNISON’s General Political Fund. Posed by models.

Jake’s teaching assistant has

given him a future Denise, mum of three

The future for our school is scaryAli, teaching assistant

I love seeing children’s faces light up when they’re inspired, especially the ones who need that extra support. But with all these cuts our workloads are getting ridiculous and class sizes just keep getting bigger! Kids like Jake struggle more than they should because we don’t have the time or resource to give them the right support. Many of us work extra hours but we still can’t give the children all the help they need. It breaks my heart.

Your public services are in crisis. Tweet, share, vote, say thanks – whatever you do, do it now. Get involved at publicservicechampions.org

#backyourchampions

Based on personal testimonies. Funded by UNISON’s General Political Fund. Posed by models.

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We need as many members and activists to take part in the campaign as possible. Here are some of the main things that you can do to get involved.

Use the Public Service Champions campaign materials

Because of the Lobbying Act spending restrictions no election campaign material can be produced at region or branch level.

However, the national Public Service Champions campaign materials can be used for campaigning locally.

They can be ordered from the UNISON online catalogue www.unison.org.uk/onlinecatalogue and include:

Register to vote postcard

People have until 22 May to register to vote (23 May for a postal vote).

The postcard explains how to register to vote and get a postal or proxy vote. It highlights the opportunity that the election provides to raise concerns about public services.

Many of our members are already registered to vote, but those who have moved recently, student nurses and people who might not have voted recently might not be.

Handing out the postcard at union events – or outside places of work (with employer permission if on work premises) will be a good way of communicating a simple message and starting conversations.

Public services pledge card

The pledge card sets out UNISON’s demands for public services. These can be distributed at union or other events outside work and used with members. Members can use the pledge cards to quiz canvassers and candidates when they knock on doors: Do candidates support our demands? If candidates want our votes – they need to show genuine commitment to public services.

Champions campaign briefing

The champions campaign briefing sets out an easy-to-follow guide on how to make and share a short film on your social media using your smart phone. These films tell the real story about what’s happening in public services after close to 10 years’ of cuts. Sharing members’ stories can take your testimony to a wider public and help shape the public debate.

Pens, badges, stickers

As with other UNISON campaigns there are also lots of Public Service Champions badges, pens and stickers that can be used to start conversations and engage members. These can be ordered for specific events by emailing: stockorders@unison.co.uk

Volunteer to help the Labour Party

The only way to get rid of the Tories is for Labour to win seats and gain power. So any help UNISON members can give can make a difference.

UNISON is affiliated to the Labour Party. This is known as The Labour Link. And through this affiliation the union has campaigned for policy commitments that would directly benefit UNISON members.

A Labour victory would result in:• an end to the pay cap in the public sector• a commitment to raise the National Living Wage to

£10 an hour during the next parliament• scrapping the Trade Union Act • tackling zero hours contracts and insecure work

Get involved

A guide to campaigning for public services

General election briefing

2017

Find out how you can help at: PublicServiceChampions.org #backyourchampions

I pledge... my support for better public services

Proper funding for all our public services – from the NHS to local councils, from education to policing – so that they can meet rising demand and the diverse needs of all our communities.

The right number of appropriately trained staff to keep our services safe and effective – so that quality of care and standards of service that the public deserve can be guaranteed.

A voice for local communities about how their public services are provided – so that all services, including specialist services, are responsive to local needs.

The economic benefits of public services to be recognised – so investment, jobs and decent pay boost local economies and create opportunities.

More openness – so that decisions about who provides local services and how they do it are clear and can be properly scrutinised.

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• protecting workers’ rights that are enshrined through European laws and which would be at risk under a Tory EU exit

• an end to privatisation in the NHS.

How to find out more

Labour will fight every seat in England, Wales and Scotland, so it is easy to volunteer locally via your Constituency Labour Party. There might be someone, possibly a Labour Link contact in your branch, who can help you.

You can volunteer online and the Labour Party will get back to you at www.labourparty.org.uk

This can feel like a big step for someone who hasn’t been involved previously, but UNISON members will be made to feel welcome. Everything will be done to help and support volunteers who have not been involved in political campaigning previously.

Alternatively UNISON regional organisers can help put members in touch with the local Labour Link person. Sometimes you will be campaigning alongside members of other unions, through a dedicated union/Labour Party body called TULO [See: Useful links and contacts).

Types of activity include: • leafletting your neighbourhood • putting a poster in your own window • canvassing (knocking on people’s doors and asking them

how they plan to vote) • stuffing envelopes • working on a telephone bank • driving.

www.labourparty.org.uk

Focus existing local anti-cuts campaigns on the general election

There are many local campaigns up and running that will gain added significance in the context of the general election. In many cases UNISON members will already support such campaigns and activists may be fully involved. Examples might

include campaigns about local NHS services, library closures or school cuts.

In these cases think about how the issues play out in the political context. For example, can a campaign about saving local services that have been under threat from closure, reduced opening or privatisation be used to highlight differences between the parties and candidates at the election?

Think about local campaigns that fit this category and how you might approach others involved to reinvigorate them in the weeks ahead.

However, please remember that fresh materials related to the election can not be produced because of restrictions imposed by the Lobbying Act. Campaigning must be conducted by members as volunteers.

Campaigning against the far right

UNISON works around the year with groups such as HOPE not hate and other local anti-racist, anti-fascist campaigns to tackle racism and to organise local communities against the politics of hate.

Successful campaigns in the past mean that we no longer have to worry too much about the BNP – and UKIP are less of a threat than in 2015. However, following the upsurge in racist incidents since last year’s EU referendum we must remain vigilant, and HOPE not hate will be active throughout the coming weeks.

If you want to volunteer with HOPE not Hate in your own time contact them directly at:

hopenothate.org.uk

#backyourchampionsPublicServiceChampions.org

Spring 2017

The Public Service Champions campaignAfter nearly 10 years of government cuts all UNISON members know how hard it can be to provide good quality, effective public services.

The Public Service Champions campaign aims to help win over public opinion to a change of direction on cuts and proper investment in public services.

It seeks to change the debate from one about money, ‘cost-saving’, ‘efficiencies’ and to highlight the human cost of cuts and under-investment.

Public Service Champions always seeks to keep real people – service users and workers – at the heart of the campaign. Telling their stories, showing the impact on people’s lives, is what it is all about.

Trusted expertsThroughout the campaign we will use the real experience of our members – experts you can trust when you don’t believe politicians or the media – to:

• Increase public support for public services and those that provide them.

• Raise awareness of the pressures public services face and the measures necessary to address them.

• Ensure that public services are among the top three issues during national and local elections.

Public Service ChampionsCampaign briefing for branches and activists

The NHS

saved my lifeSara, road accident survivor

The NHS

needs savingJulia, paramedic

I’m immensely proud that me and my team

save lives like Sara’s. But due to cuts, we’ve

got impossible workloads. People are

leaving because the stress is just too

much. Meanwhile, emergency calls

continue to come in thick and fast.

This isn’t just my problem, this is a

matter of life and death for all of us.

#backyourchampions

Based on personal testimonies. Funded by UNISON’s General Political Fund. Posed by models.

Your public services are in crisis. Tweet, share, vote, say thanks – whatever you do, do it now.

Get involved at publicservicechampions.org Jake’s teaching assistant has

given him a future Denise, mum of three

The future for our school is scaryAli, teaching assistant

I love seeing children’s faces light up when they’re inspired, especially the ones who need that extra support. But with all these cuts our workloads are getting ridiculous and class sizes just keep getting bigger! Kids like Jake struggle more than they should because we don’t have the time or resource to give them the right support. Many of us work extra hours but we still can’t give the children all the help they need. It breaks my heart.

Your public services are in crisis. Tweet, share, vote, say thanks – whatever you do, do it now. Get involved at publicservicechampions.org

#backyourchampions

Based on personal testimonies. Funded by UNISON’s General Political Fund. Posed by models.

24326.briefing.indd 3 19/04/2017 15:39

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Because of the Lobbying Act, the amount of money that UNISON spends campaigning during the election is tightly regulated. In addition to not producing any materials locally it is important that branches do not: • hold public rallies and hustings (including events where

UNISON would be a partner or sponsor)• jointly brand election-related campaigns with our allies • pay for staff time related to election campaigning.

The good news is:

Any volunteering undertaken as a citizen in your own time does not count under the Lobbying Act. Similarly, materials that you order that have been produced by UNISON for engaging with UNISON members do not count.

If you volunteer with Labour, materials you use will already be accounted for by Labour.

If in doubt please get in touch: champions@unison.co.uk

The ideas set out above provide something of a pick and mix. A good starting point is holding a branch planning meeting, if you haven’t already done so. Talk through what you can manage and order any materials that you might need.

Key dates

Register to vote – 22 May

Register for a postal vote – 23 May

Register for a proxy vote – 31 May

Polling day – Thursday 8 June

Lobbying Act compliance Next steps

A guide to campaigning for public services

General election briefing

2017

7

Here are a few bald facts about the impact of government cuts on our public services.

NHS

• The NHS is going through the biggest financial squeeze in its history, with spending per head of population set to fall in 2018/19 and waiting times getting longer.

• There are 24,000 fewer nurses and 3,500 fewer midwives than are needed.

• The number of adults who say they do not get the care they need has increased by nearly 50% since 2010.

Young people

• More than 600 youth centres have closed since 2012, taking away the help and support provided to some of the most vulnerable young people in our communities.

Police staff

• Police funding was cut by 20% between 2010 and 2015, but neighbourhood policing was cut even more, with 30% of police community support officers cut.

Libraries

• More than 400 libraries have closed since 2010, depriving communities of access to books, courses and computer facilities.

Schools

• Schools are facing a real terms cut of £3billion, which will result in spending per pupil falling by an average of 8% by 2019/20.

Impact of devolution

Public services in the devolved nations are encountering significant challenges because of central government cuts.

Public Service Champions www.publicservicechampions.org

UNISON online cataloguewww.unison.org.uk/onlinecatalogue

Volunteer for the Labour Party www.labour.org.uk

HOPE not hate www.hopenothate.org.uk

Electoral Commission advice on votingwww.yourvotematters.co.uk

Government voter registration website www.gov.uk/register-to-vote

Operation Black Votewww.obv.org.uk

Trade Unions for Labour Organisation (Tulo)www.unionstogether.org.uk

Why we need a change of government

Useful links and contacts

Published and printed by UNISON, The UNISON Centre, 130 Euston Road, London NW1 2AY CU/May 2017/24371 unison.org.uk