Danger of 'national' services

Speech on STUC motion from FBU on a national fire service: UNISON will be abstaining on this motion for a number of reasons but primarily because we cannot commit to supporting a national fire and rescue service without a full debate, discussion and consultation with out members who provide the vital infrastructure for this service. But we also have reservations in general about the drive towards national rather than local services.

While we respect the views and knowledge of our FBU comrades – and we would have to defer to their understanding of the needs of this front line service – we would be worried if a national service became a template for a host of other services.