INSOURCE NOW!

“We need a ‘people’s plan’ for insourcing to end the exploitation of workers and ensure public services put people before profit,” RMT general secretary Eddie Dempsey told a huge rally held at Unison headquarters in London. RMT and Unison launched a joint campaign, Insource Now!, calling for the outsourcing of public contracts to stop and for public services to be brought back in-house rather than given to private firms. Joint Unison and RMT research has revealed that spending on private contractors for public services including cleaning, catering and security has doubled since Labour came to power. The value of outsourced contracts awarded or renewed for facilities reached £6.2 billion, up from £3.5 billion two years ago, according to recent figures, said the unions. Research reveals that the outsourcing of public sector contracts remains widespread in areas such as health, local government and transport. Unison general secretary Andrea Egan said that the wave of insourcing that everyone was promised was, in fact, just a trickle. “Outsourcing is a scourge that’s draining vast amounts of cash from public services to generate huge profits skimmed off by greedy bosses of private firms. “Every penny should be spent on providing higher quality services for everyone who needs them and making sure staff are paid fairly, instead of given rock-bottom rates. “Insourcing makes perfect economic sense and makes sure that the public gets what they pay for,” she said. Eddie Dempsey agreed and said that public sector outsourcing was a national scandal that has been privatising essential public services throughout the country. “We have to call this model out for what it is, it leads to low pay, structural racism and embeds inequality. “Taxpayers’ money is being used to increase the profits of wealthy corporations while workers and communities pay the price through worse jobs and services. “With Andy Burnham’s welcome support for insourcing, there’s now a real opportunity to turn the page. “We’re calling on the government to urgently agree a new ‘people’s plan’ for RMT helpline 0800 376 3706 :: september/october 2026 :: RMTnews 16 INSOURCE NOW! Unions join forces to end outsourcing for better jobs and services