Unions blast cash axe as ‘shameful’
DOZENS of protesters gathered outside the city chambers as Glasgow City Council’s budget was pushed through.
Members of trade unions Unison, Unite, GMB and EIS were among those campaigning against the “shameful” plans yesterday to save £53m, and raise council tax by three per cent. With ‘no more cuts’ being chanted by the crowd union branch leaders voiced their opposition to the cuts to public services they say will be detrimental to the city’s most vulnerable.
Brian Smith, Glasgow’s regional organiser from Unite said: “We are here again this year as there is to be £53m worth of cuts coming from Glasgow city council.
“Every council department will be affected, whether it’s home care, social work, land and environmental services or libraries.”
He added the trade union’s view on a proposed hike in council tax was that the plans were “fundamentally unfair.”
Meanwhile, Eddie Cassidy, the convener of Unite’s Glasgow City branch said: “The cuts are totally unacceptable.
“Again we are seeing the centres relied on by the city’s vulnerable being most affected.
“We are seeing the education system being stripped back more and more where cuts to back room staff affect the front room staff’s ability to deliver an acceptable service.
“It can’t go on any longer. It’s shameful.”
Ian Leech, Convenor of Social Work at Unison added: “We hope Labour will put forward a no cuts package and decide to defend services in Glasgow by using the legal powers they have to fight for money from the government. However, what we expect is different. I think SNP will put forward an alternative package with varied spending. However, £53 million worth of cuts will still be made.”