The Press and Journal (Inverness, Highlands, and Islands)

Morale low as jobs in balance

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Union bosses have claimed morale at Moray Council has been shattered as staff wait to find out if their jobs will be axed.

The authority is facing £12million of cuts, and bosses have admitted only essential services are safe.

Staff are in limbo as they wait to find out what will be cut later this year, and concerns have been raised that they are not being kept up-to-date with what is happening.

Last night union bosses admitted it has been almost impossible to keep spirits high while they are powerless to stand in the way of cuts.

Moray Unison branch secretary Ailsa McDowell said: “We’re not going to know exactly what is proposed until later in the year – but we know it is not going to be good news.

“A time of change is often a source of stress”

“Not everybody is going to lose their job, people will retire and resign, but there is uncertaint­y about where the cuts will be.”

Council bosses have admitted saving money has led to stress levels rising in staff, but at this week’s policy and resources committee, officers said uncertaint­y was inevitable.

Elgin City North councillor Mike Shand said: “A time of significan­t change is often a source of stress. Staff feel they have not been involved in the process so there are obviously lessons to be learned there.”

Council leader Stewart Cree said: “I recognise that in the change it is a very unsettling time but that has to be gone through sometimes to get to the position we are now in.”

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