Class dismissed by staff strike

STRIKE action by local council workers is set to close schools across Edinburgh on the first day of the new term and cripple scores of vital services across the city.

Public sector unions have announced an all-out one-day strike on Wednesday, August 20, which could also severely disrupt festival performances.

Scottish members of Unison, Unite and GMB all voted in favour of industrial action in protest against the offer of a 2.5 per cent pay rise each year for three years.

Union leaders today said the disruption in Edinburgh could be the most severe for years.

As well as potentially disrupting the first day of school for thousands of pupils, libraries, social work and housing offices, community centres, care homes, home help services and cremations could all be affected.

Unlike strikes in previous years, binmen and street cleaners would also be likely to join in, at a time when late-night drinking and mounds of festival flyers add to the litter problems on Edinburgh's streets.

Some festival venues could also be forced to close, particularly council-owned premises such as The Assembly Rooms and the Usher Hall. Other events, such as the military Tattoo, could also be affected if public safety workers are not available for duty.

John Stevenson, spokesman for Unison's Edinburgh branch, said: "This would affect every service, and while it's sad that it's come to industrial action, it shows just how much is provided by local government.

"At schools, head teachers will have to carry out a risk assessment before deciding whether to open, but there is a long history of problems with heating on the first day of school.

"(At public venues], local authority workers have to check that rules are being followed, and if that person isn't there, then the venues can't open.

"But there is time to stop this going ahead, and the employers need to come back to the table with a revised offer."

Last year, Unison members in Edinburgh staged a one-day strike over service cuts, which affected 122 schools, nurseries and community centres.

Most libraries were closed, as well as many housing and social work offices and the council tax headquarters at Chesser House. There was also minimal cover in residential care homes.

However, only around half of the council's workforce took part, and Mr Stevenson said the turnout would likely be much higher this year.

"Pay rises are something that affect everybody, whereas service cuts are quite local and some people are more passionate than others," he said.

Teachers in Edinburgh and Midlothian go back to school on Monday August 18, but pupils are not due to join them until the Wednesday. That means the disruption to schools will hit Edinburgh harder than other areas, such as Glasgow and East Lothian, where pupils return on the Monday. But other services will still be affected in the rest of the Lothians.

City finance leader Gordon Mackenzie said: "Although we haven't yet had formal notification, we understand that there is going to be industrial action on August 20.

"Management will be meeting with local trade union representatives to find out their plans in respect of local services. In the meantime, we will keep our contingency plans under review should industrial action go ahead."

The pay offer for Scottish workers is better than the 2.4 per cent deal in England which has provoked action south of the Border, but union leaders say it does not keep pace with the cost of living.

Michael Cook, chairman of the employers' side at the local government body Cosla, has said he hopes talks can continue.

Jobs saved as axe falls on . . cutbacks

HUNDREDS of under-threat white collar jobs at the city council have been saved after officials ruled there is not enough cash to implement their efficiency drive.

A £27 million programme was launched last year, which would have resulted in the equivalent loss of around 800 full-time posts – including home helps – over the next three years.

The drive was expected to save £57m, partly by reducing duplication across departments, but money was needed up-front for measures like redundancy payments and re-training costs.

Instead, councillors will now be asked to spend £11.4m over the three years, saving £22.9m with the equivalent loss of just 294 jobs. This will include home-based care posts, as well as jobs in the council's initial contact centre, and procurement departments.

Council bosses have always insisted the cuts can be made largely through natural wastage – the council has a nine per cent turnover rate – with some voluntary redundancies if necessary, although they have refused to rule out compulsory job losses. The measures are designed to ensure that taxpayers receive best value from the council.

City finance leader Gordon Mackenzie said: "The second phase of this project has produced more achievable targets for improving services and reducing costs within the council.

"We've already started making headway by streamlining agency costs and making revisions in procurement and home-based care services.

"There's still a long way to go to enable us to fully maximise potential savings, but I stress once again that this is not an exercise about reducing jobs but about making the council an even more effective organisation."