Commenting on the Scottish government’s public service reform proposals for local government, UNISON Scotland’s convenor Mark Ferguson said: “The Scottish government cannot credibly promise stronger local democracy while simultaneously cutting around 20,000 public service workers and slashing millions from budgets.
“You cannot build new regional and community authorities on the cheap. They will require investment, skilled staff and the resources to make them work. Major reductions in the workforce will ultimately leave communities with less, not more.
“UNISON will engage constructively with the Scottish government, but our message is clear: don’t confuse reform with cuts. If the Scottish government wants stronger communities, better local services and a stronger democratic voice, it must invest in the people that make them possible.
“Real reform must be about strengthening public services, not just finding ways to spend less. Public service workers understand how services work, where they could work better and what is needed to improve them. Their expertise is vital to reform. If the government is serious about better services, it needs to listen to the people who deliver them.”
Notes
– UNISON is Scotland’s largest union, with more than 160,000 members providing public services in education, local government, the NHS, police service and energy. They are employed in the public, voluntary and private sectors.