City deleGation protests outside Holyrood

A DELEGATION from Dundee travelled to Holyrood to protest outside the Scottish Parliament during the budget speech.

Representatives from Dundee Against Cuts were in Edinburgh to demonstrate in support of public services.

The demonstration came ahead of a meeting they have planned on Sunday which is aimed at co-ordinating the battle against continued austerity measures.

A spokesman for Dundee Against Cuts said significant concerns about the effects of the proposed budget had prompted trade union reps to take action to fight against the council’s proposed £70 million spending cuts.

The spokesman said: “Cuts to the council budget added to attacks on social security, the health service, price rises and wage cuts mean hard times for many Dundonians.

“We need to build a campaign of resistance that sees people say no to cuts — in communities, in every workplace and in the council chamber.

“People can no longer afford to have any further cuts to frontline services in Dundee.

“We have to organise what action we can take to fight the proposed cuts.”

Stewart Fairweather, Dundee branch chairman of Unite, said: “We’re urging people to come together to plan our response to fight to protect services in Dundee.

“Cuts to the council budget — added to attacks on social security, the health service, price rises and wage cuts — mean hard times for many Dundonians.”

Raymond Mennie, of Dundee Against Cuts, said Sunday’s meeting would help them to formulate a plan to “oppose poverty, worker burnout and job losses, as well as cuts to health, education, housing, transport, social services, benefits and wages”.