Date: Wed 20 February 2013
Dave Prentis, General Secretary of the UK’s largest public sector union, UNISON, will tomorrow (21 February, 2013), join members in Stornoway to add his voice to their opposition to spending cuts and job losses.
He will be attending and speaking at the union’s Western Isles local government branch AGM, scheduled to start at 3pm. Over the past two years, 200 jobs have been cut and more are on the cards as a result of the Comhairle nan Eilean Siar (Western Isles Council) budget for 2013-15.
He will be urging the Comhairle to do all in its power to protect jobs and services.
Dave Prentis will say:
“The Western Isles rely heavily on the public sector for employment, for services and for maintaining the health of the local economy. More job cuts will simply add to the misery of families affected and will do nothing to assist the economy.
“People out of work have no money to spend in the local shops and businesses, and the economy suffers as a result. All the evidence shows that there are few private sector jobs out there, apart from those that are part-time and low paid.
“This is not the time to cut jobs and the services that people need to help them through these tough times.
“UNISON will continue to fight spending cuts and make the case for real investment in real jobs to give us the real growth families so desperately need.”
Dave Prentis will also call on the Comhairle to join the growing band of Living Wage employers.
The Scottish Living Wage is currently set at £7.45 an hour.
ends
For further information and requests for interview please contact:
Alison MacCorquodale, Western Isles UNISON branch secretary, 07717685610
Fiona Montgomery, Communications Officer, UNISON Scotland, 0141 342 2877 or 07508 877 000
Malcolm Burns, Communications Officer, UNISON Scotland, 0141 342 2877 or 078765 66978.