Trade union strategies should include early intervention in the options appraisal process and development of alternative policies. They should ensure that the preparation of a business case and the procurement process are challenged. The extensive use of consultants and advisers results in the reduction of public sector capacity and jobs. Trade unions should do more to develop targeted research and intelligence on the increasing role of PPPs and infrastructure funds.
Direct pension fund involvement in PPPs or via secondary market funds is increasing and profits from these investments and the sale of PPP equity is likely to be justified on the grounds that they are contributing to sustaining member's pensions! Pension fund investment in public infrastructure is complex and contradictory. For example, UNISON has campaigned and funded research into the effects of PPPs for many years, yet a new campaign, CapitalStewards, on pension fund investment includes a video that describes how they "…may well invest in public private partnerships to build hospitals and schools" (https://www.capitalstewards.org/).