18 August 2010
UNISON anger at Edinburgh cuts announcement
UNISON has expressed its anger at the City of
Edinburgh Council’s announcement today to cut a
further 16 million with 300 jobs to go. It has called
for an emergency meeting with the council today.
John Stevenson, Branch President, said: “UNISON
is angry for three reasons. Firstly to hear about
these cuts through the media is a disgrace. Only
yesterday union negotiators met the council leader
Jenny Dawe and no mention was made of these cuts.
“Secondly, despite what the council’s press release
says, unions were not being briefed on these unnecessary
cuts.
“And thirdly, we are not convinced by the crocodile
tears of the council leader. It is her coalition
government that is forcing through cuts that the
economists who actually predicted the crisis say
are not needed and will put the economy into an
even bigger mess. These cuts have nothing to do
with the deficit, they are purely and simply an
ideological attack on public services and the people
who rely on them”.
Our members have delivered up to £90m in savings
in the last four years. They have helped the council
win award after award including being shortlisted
for ‘council of the year’. This is a disgraceful
way to treat them.