10 February 2011
ABANDON PRIVATISATION AND SAVE SERVICES, UNISON
TELLS EDINBURGH COUNCIL ON BUDGET DAY
Members of UNISON's Edinburgh branch will lobby
the City of Edinburgh Council Budget Meeting at
the City Chambers, High Street, Edinburgh on Thursday
10 February 2011 from 08.30 - 9.30 to urge the council
to protect front line services, avoid compulsory
redundancies and abandon 'wasteful' privatisation
plans.
The union has produced a briefing for councillors
urging them to look at new ways of generating income
in light of central government cuts and to consider
a 'living wage' to protect the lowest paid workers.
John Stevenson, UNISON Edinburgh Branch President,
said: "We know from the economists who actually
predicted the crash that cuts like these are not
needed and they are likely to damage the economy
further. The UK Government cut £6 billion from public
services in June and now we hear bankers are to
give themselves the same £6 billion in bonuses this
year. Surely something is sadly wrong when public
services and public service workers have to pay
for the folly of the financial sector.
"But we also know that the council has to face
the reality of the UK Coalition's cuts and the Scottish
Government's budget settlement. That makes it all
the more important that the Council does all in
its power to stand up for Edinburgh's jobs and services
now so that there will still be an infrastructure
there to build on in the future."
Kevin Duguid, Branch Lead Negotiator said: "At
times like these every penny counts. That is why
we are calling on the Council to end its wasteful
privatisation plans. This would save money on legal
advice and consultants and free up managers and
staff to get on with the job of providing services.
All of the in-house service improvement models have
shown that they will deliver significant savings,
so why throw good money after bad by continuing
down the privatisation road?"
Agnes Petkevicius, Branch Secretary, highlighted
the human cost of cuts: "Council services are relied
on by the elderly; disabled people; children: Essential
services delivered directly by people like home
carers, social care workers, classroom assistants,
nursery nurses. Often the lowest paid and least
valued. Services like roads, public safety, cleansing
are relied on by everyone in Edinburgh - jobs delivered
for Edinburgh people by Edinburgh people. People
who put around 70p of every pound they earn back
into the local economy.
"Despite council claims that front-line services
will be protected, each and every one of these services
is facing cuts. We need to bust the myth about front
and back office jobs - they are all part of the
team delivering essential services."
Calling for the council to avoid compulsory redundancies,
Kevin Duguid said, "Unions will work with the Council
but that is hard for workers to do when they could
be forced on to the dole. Many are toiling to cover
for the hundreds of jobs already lost without also
being faced with the sack. A Council this size should
be able to manage any job losses on a voluntary
basis".
ENDS