Branches call on public and politicians to love public services

West Lothian Valentine
West Lothian event

Valentine’s Day protests were held across Scotland against councils’ plans to cut services and jobs, calling on the public to ‘show their love for public services’.

Moray UNISON held a ‘Show Your Love for Public Services’ lobby of the council HQ prior to the full council meeting on 14 February after a public event on 10 February to sign up to the branch’s Valentine’s Day Card. See more here.

In West Lothian, UNISON treasurer Catrina Warren told a lobby of the council:  “These services and jobs are crucial for the delivery of education, social care, home care, cleansing, community safety and the many other vital services provided by the council. Enough is enough. These services are at the heart of our community. And the community cannot function without its heart.” see more on their Facebook page

Aberdeenshire valentineAberdeenshire UNISON called on the Scottish government to “Be our Valentine” and love their council staff and services as they delivered a Valentine’s Day card to Gillian Martin, MSP calling on all local SNP MSPs to support an increase in funding for council services and to give council staff a decent pay rise.

The card was been signed by UNISON members in the council and members of the public.

Branch vice-chair Steve Gray said: “With the pay cap and pay freezes, our members have endured pay cuts of 14-18% over the past eight years.

“We have been told by the Scottish government that public service workers will get a 3% pay rise but they have not given councils the money to fund this. Even with the additional funding there is a shortfall of £80 million across Scotland. This is not good enough!

“We are asking the SNP government to value our council services and the workers who deliver them and to recognise the importance of the work we do for all our citizens, but especially the most vulnerable.”