Trade unions have warned of more strikes and cuts to frontline council services, as controversy surrounding the spending cuts continues.
General secretary of Unison, Dave Prentis, warned that the Government faced ‘industrial turmoil on a massive scale’, and that the union would ‘fight tooth and nail’ to protect public services.
‘For public sector workers, and the people who rely on them – for the sick, the vulnerable, the elderly, the jobless and those seeking to better themselves through education, the future is bleak,’ said Mr Prentis.
Unite’s regional officer for Birmingham, Lynne Shakespeare, said another bin strike was looming after the city council failed to implement a new pay agreement.
Unison’s head of local government, Heather Wakefield, said the DCLG’s consultation on cutting the number of statutory duties for councils would mean communities were left exposed.
The regulations under consultation include duties to keep gas safe, and to rescue people who have been involved in road traffic accidents.
‘The coalition has made some crazy and dangerous decisions, but even thinking about getting rid of some of these duties is up there with the best of them,’ said Ms Wakefield.
