10 February 2010
No council worker gambled millions on the stock
exchange. Why should they have to pay the price
of cuts in Edinburgh? - UNISON
UNISON members who deliver Edinburgh's services
will lobby the Council meeting from 08.30 till 10.00
on Thursday 11 February against service cuts, outsourcing
and cuts in jobs and conditions.
"We are asking service users, community groups
and the Edinburgh public to stand with us and fight
for Edinburgh's services and Edinburgh's jobs",
said John Stevenson, UNISON Edinburgh Branch President.Members
who are off-shift, on leave or taking flexitime
will represent the 9,000 strong UNISON branch at
the lobby. UNISON officers will make submission
to the Council.
"Edinburgh's services face a bleak - and possible
irreversible - future as they are cut to the bone
or sold off to the lowest bidder with the lowest
quality services. Meanwhile Edinburgh jobs will
be lost. Those that are left will be hit by new
pay and conditions being imposed, meaning many lower
paid staff will lose out", added Mr Stevenson.
On Saturday 6 February, UNISON General Secretary
Dave Prentis told a UNISON Scotland 'Public Works'
rally, "No school cleaner gambled billions on the
stock exchange - No home carer, no social worker,
no librarian. None of them created this recession.
Why should they be expected to pay for it?"
Following that theme UNISON Edinburgh lead negotiator
Kevin Duguid said, "These services are provided
by people. People like home helps, social workers,
road workers, environmental staff and workers in
trading standards, education, early years and public
safety. Some will be cut and some - like home helps
- sold off to the lowest bidder paying even lower
rates so they can take our taxes as profit. Cut
the people and you cut the services, it is that
simple".
And he warned that the cuts would affect the whole
local economy. "Service cuts will affect local contractors
and suppliers. The only people to benefit from privatisation
will be big conglomerates, taking Edinburgh money
out of Edinburgh".
UNISON is calling on the Scottish Government to
abandon the concordat, make funds available to build
out of the recession and keep public services public.