Birmingham members meet to discuss Connexions cuts

(30/07/10) UNISON members in Birmingham met today to forge a way forward in defending the under-fire Connexions service in the area.

The youth service is facing a particular hammering as councils fall over themselves to make cuts, and Birmingham is one of five local authorities that has chosen to inflict the maximum cuts – it is proposing to slash 33% off the budget.

UNISON Connexions convenor John Griffin said that there had been an excellent turn-out for the meetings, with 80 members present. "We need to get started quickly," he added, as the Lib-Con coalition council is acting so fast.

"We're saying that there are choices – people need to know this," he explained, adding that the council is "spending £70m a year on consultancy."

The meeting agreed a number of measures, including building a grassroots campaign, organising a march and using the national Facebook campaign to fight the cuts.

Stewards and reps also shared information about how the cuts are leading to breaches of local authorities' statutory duties and equalities legislation.

UNISON Birmingham has produced model letters and press releases to help activists with the campaign, and have already attracted positive coverage in the media.

Connexions is an information, advice, guidance and support service for young people aged 13 to 19 (up to 25 for young people with learning difficulties and/or disabilities).

UNISON in Connexions

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