Laura Sharman 09 October 2015

Unions to protest over 3,000 job losses at Glasgow City Council

Trade unions are planning to protest at Glasgow City Council later this month, over plans to cut 3,000 jobs over the next two years.

The council, which is facing budget savings of £103m by 2017/18, said the job reductions would come from people naturally leaving the council rather than staff facing compulsory redundancy or early retirement.

However, GMB Scotland said the cuts would harm the health of council workers, and called on the council to use its reserves or borrowing powers to fill the funding gap.

Benny Rankin, GMB Scotland regional officer, said: ‘Morale within Glasgow City Council employees has hit rock bottom particularly within the cleansing service. Sickness levels due to stress is the highest recorded with more and more cases of musculoskeletal pain arising due to long working days and the demands on employees by management to continue to provide the same service levels as that which would be expected from a full contingent of workforce.

He added; ‘Glasgow City Council workers and the services they run are literally on their knees now. Further cuts on these services will make it for the workers’ jobs not worth having as they are extremely detrimental to their health and well-being. For the people of Glasgow the services will not be fit for purpose and which will eventually be broken beyond repair.’

The council’s city treasurer, cllr Paul Rooney said: ‘Glasgow has been hit with a disproportionate share of the Scottish cuts over the last seven years and I welcome the unions’ call to oppose further cuts to Glasgow.

‘The proposal to borrow to avoid savings would not be legal, but we want to work with our colleagues in the union movement to balance the budget while protecting services and jobs.’

Members of GMB Scotland, Unite, Unison, Ucatt and EIS will lobby the council at its next full meeting on 29 October.

SIGN UP
For your free daily news bulletin
Highways jobs

Highly Specialist Clinical Psychologist

Oxfordshire County Council
£62215 - £72293
How about joining The Clinical Team at Oxfordshire County Council in our new Community Family Clinic initiative? Oxford
Recuriter: Oxfordshire County Council

Traffic Management Officer - WMF2114e

Westmorland and Furness Council
£37,035 - £37,938
Are you an experienced and motivated professional looking to take the next step in your traffic management career? Cumbria / Various
Recuriter: Westmorland and Furness Council

Peripatetic Support Assistant

Wakefield Council
£16,415.00 - £16,675.23 Grade 4, 24.5 hours, Permanent
Are you caring, compassionate, and friendly? Wakefield, West Yorkshire
Recuriter: Wakefield Council

Peripatetic Support Assistant

Wakefield Council
£14,070.00 - £14,293.05 Grade 4, 21 hours, Permanent
Are you caring, compassionate, and friendly? Wakefield, West Yorkshire
Recuriter: Wakefield Council

Recruitment Support Officer

Durham County Council
£25,584 to £27,711 p.a. (Grade 5) pay award pending
We are looking for a Recruitment Support Officer to join our team on a temporary basis until 31 March 2026. In this role, you will provide a comprehe Spennymoor
Recuriter: Durham County Council
Linkedin Banner