Staff not briefed on employee cutbacks

Staff were not briefed ahead of an announcement of a “significant reduction” in Dundee City Council’s workforce made yesterday.

A statement was released at 4pm revealing the £16.8 million expected cuts.

It warned “there is likely to be a significant reduction in the workforce of the council”.

But neither Unite or Unison representatives, who oversee the welfare of thousands of those employees, were aware of the announcement when contacted by The Courier.

Bob Macgregor, regional industrial officer for Unite the Union, said: “They had been mooting £16m in cuts so we knew it was going to be bad but this is news to us.

“We were expecting budget cuts but nobody told us about the statement or the staff reduction.

“We have not had any consultation yet.”

Unite members, alongside other representatives from the Dundee Trades Union Council, will rally in the city centre at the end of the month to protest against cuts to public services and jobs.

Campaigners will gather at the Unite offices on Blackness Road at noon on February 29 before marching to Albert Square for the rally.

Another statement, sent alongside the budget warning, hailed a £375m capital plan for the next five years, which council leader John Alexander said will create jobs and tackle climate change.

He said: “Our investment in construction projects across Dundee provides jobs and stimulates the economy.

“It assists in our drive to make Dundee a smarter, fairer and more sustainable city for all. I am keen that our communities feel the benefit of this massive investment in as many ways as possible, while we are making a contribution towards tackling the problems of climate change.

“The city enjoys a long track record of innovation, with projects like V&A Dundee and the Regional Performance Centre showing how sustainability can be at the heart of major construction.

“We are committed to making Dundee a sustainable city. We cannot be complacent.”