Scotland’s largest trade union will lobby the Scottish Parliament on budget day (1pm, Wednesday 24 February 2016) to call for a fair funding settlement for local services.
Local government has taken the brunt of cuts in Scotland. Scottish Government funding is down by 0.8%. Yet funding for local government is down by 4.5%. This is a £500m cut from local services this year.
The cumulative cost of the council tax freeze is £3.15bn out of local services. Of the 50,000 job cuts in Scotland, 40,000 have been in local government. This budget will mean a further 15,000 job cuts for Scottish council workers.
UNISON believes these cuts are simply unsustainable.
Mark Ferguson chair of UNISON local government committee said,
‘It is no secret that UNISON members have been taken aback by the level of cuts forced on to Scottish councils. Our local council services simply cannot sustain this level of cuts. We are already seeing cuts to services for disabled people, older people, education, youth services, school support, libraries, road repairs and much more.
‘We need to look at expanding the funds available and agree a fairer funding settlement for local government. Another £500m cuts and 15,000 more jobs cuts will have a drastic effect on both our local services and economy. It’s why we are calling on the Scottish parliament to look at this budget again.’
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Notes
- UNISON is the public services union. We are the biggest union in local government, and the biggest union in Scotland
- UNISON is joining other public sector trade unions and the STUC in a lobby of the Scottish Parliament on budget day.
- The lobby will be at 1pm outside Scottish Parliament, Wednesday, 24 February 2016. UNISON spokespeople will be available for comment
UNISON Contacts
- Mark Ferguson, chair of local government committee, 07773342570
- Danny Phillips, communications officer, 07944 664 110