Date: Monday 18 November 2013

Savage and unnecessary cuts will damage East Ayrshire communities, warn unions

Trade unions have issued a stark warning to East Ayrshire Council that proposed budget cuts are unnecessary and bad news for communities.

The joint trade unions representing the council’s workforce – UNISON, Unite, GMB and UCATT – issued their response to the council today (Monday) and say the council must acknowledge its budget does not meet the needs of the people of Ayrshire.

The unions say cutting vital services – which is a direct result of unnecessary austerity measures introduced at Westminster, followed through by the Scottish Parliament and implemented by the council – is not the way forward and that councillors should not feel powerless in the process.

Speaking on behalf of the joint trade unions, Simon MacFarlane, UNISON Regional Organiser, said:

“The cuts the council’s currently making, together with the proposed cuts in this budget, are unjust and unnecessary. The council must acknowledge its budget doesn’t meet the needs of the people of East Ayrshire and, alongside the actual budget, publish a shadow budget which shows what is required to deliver the services people need and deserve.

“Hundreds of jobs will be lost which will not only be devastating for those individuals and their families but also for the services that the community relies on. The council needs to be upfront about the damage that’s being caused, rather than trying to gloss over the cuts.

“We want to work with the council but we need them to offer assurances around three key areas: no compulsory redundancies; no attacks on terms and conditions and no enforced cuts in hours for individuals.”

ENDS

For further information contact:
Simon MacFarlane, UNISON’s Regional Organiser, on   07703 194 132

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