Fury at move to shut Department of Work and Pensions
More than 300 people face the sack after Department of Work and Pensions bosses announced plans to close its centre in Paisley.
Trade unions and politicians reacted with fury at the latest jobs blow to affect Renfrewshire, coming on the back of news that Chivas is moving 460 jobs out of town, as well as Doosan Backcock’s shock decision to axe more than 300 workers at its Renfrew factory.
Staff at the Lonend site face compulsory redundancy from April, with the administration centre closing for good by March 2018.
The Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS) last night voiced its anger at the announcement.
Paisley shop steward Colin Mack said: “We have more than 300 jobs at risk.
“I am shocked and disgusted by this decision.
“They are taking these jobs out of Paisley and leaving the staff without
their livelihoods, where they have families, childcare, mortgages.
“The staff work really hard and they have been left reeling by this sudden and unexpected announcement. People here are really upset.”
He explained that redundancy talks are underway and will end by April with the centre closing for good from March 2018.
Union sources added that the work is being transferred to a site in Glasgow, which remains unidentified to the workforce.
Staff emerging from the centre yesterday declined to speak publicly about the job losses.
Members of DWP staff also hovered outside and tried to discourage the shop steward from speaking to the Paisley Daily Express.
Paisley’s centre is one of eight DWP admin sites in the country, along with seven jobcentres, which are being axed in the latest round of cuts the UK Government.
Mhairi Black MP for Paisley and Renfrewshire South described it as “devastating” for Paisley, a town already blighted by poverty and still reeling from recent job losses
She said: “This is yet more bad news for Paisley. This will be devastating for all those who work there.
“I think it is deplorable that the Minister for Employment did not bother alert MPs ahead of this announcement, and instead left us to find out this information through the media.
“There are already concerns that DWP staff are under pressure with increasing workload and I do not understand how closing yet more facilities will rectify that.
“This closure will impact directly on those who rely on our security system.”
MSP George Adam accused the Tory government of an “attack” on the people of Paisley.
He said: “Paisley is now being attacked by the Tories after massive jobcentre closures proposed throughout Scotland and Glasgow in particular.
“And I use the word attack quite deliberately.
“This right-wing Tory Government have already targeted the disabled, removing benefits from those most in need. This is continuing now with those that need support when they find themselves out of work.”
He added: “We have 300 families going to be affected by the Lonend closure. This is not the type of society I want to see. The infrastructure to support those out of work is being systematically removed.”
The latest cuts come following the closure of 13 job centres, eight of them in Glasgow, announced last month by the DWP.
Gavin Newlands, MP for Paisley and Renfrewshire North, said: “I am extremely angry to learn that the DWP are closing their Paisley Lonend administration office. This is part a series of closures throughout Scotland.
“Following the decision to close half the jobcentres across Glasgow, this should be seen as another decision taken by the London Tories with no regards to people living in communities like Paisley.
“I have contacted the Secretary of State for Works and Pensions to protest against this closure and to request that he reconsiders this appalling decision.”
The UK Government said the closures will save taxpayers £ 180 million each year over the next decade.
Damian Hinds, UK employment minister, said: “We will always make sure that people have the support they need to get into and progress within work, that’s why we are recruiting 2,500 more work coaches to help those who need it most.
“The way the world works has changed in the last 20 years and the welfare state needs to keep pace.
“As more people access their benefits through the internet, many of our buildings are under-used. We are concentrating our resources on what we know best helps people into work.
“The changes we’ve announced today will help ensure that the way we deliver our services reflect the reality of today’s welfare system.”