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Date: Thurs 28 April 2011
Hundreds to lobby in Glasgow to defend attacks on services
to disabled people
Trade unionists, community groups and members of the public
will gather in Glasgow today to lobby against service cuts for
disabled people.
Members of the Defend Glasgow Services campaign – a group
set up by trade unions, community organisations and community
campaigners to fight the cuts – said the cuts will hit the most
vulnerable the hardest and is calling on funding for these vital
services to be maintained.
Brian Smith, of UNISON’s Glasgow City branch, said: “The council
is trying to cover up the cuts by calling it ‘personalisation’.
We support the principle that everyone should have choice and
control over their care, but this has to be a real choice, not
the only option because all of the services have been cut.
“So when most providers in the city are facing overall budget
cuts of 35 to 40 per cent, this is not about choice – it’s simply
an attempt to make a cheaper service, not a better service.”
The DGS campaign is calling on the personalisation process
to be halted, for funding to be maintained and for meaningful
and genuine consultation with service users to take place.
Brian Smith added: “Like us all, people with disabilities depend
on other public services so as well as their own services being
cut, they will suffer from reduced public provision. Add to
this the onslaught on benefits and it is clear that we are not
all in this together. The cuts will hit the most vulnerable
the hardest.”
ENDS
PHOTO/MEDIA OPPORTUNITY You are invited to send a photographer,
reporter and/or crew to attend the lobby which will take place
at 12.30pm on Thursday, April 28 in George Square, Glasgow.
Notes to editors:
1. For more information on the Defend Glasgow Services lobby
log on to www.unison-scotland.org.uk
2. For further information contact Brian Smith, Branch Secretary
of Glasgow City branch, on 0141 552 7069 or Simon Macfarlane,
Regional Organiser for UNISON, on 07703 194 132
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