Unions threaten strike action over £850,000 cut to budget

Published on Thursday 24 January 2008 09:53

UNIONS today threatened strike action over the council's latest budget cut plans, which could see 16 community learning staff face the axe.

Fears are growing over the proposals to cut 850,000 from the community learning and development (CLD) budget, amid claims it will hit the provision of vital services. It is also feared cuts to janitors' overtime could mean community centres will not be able to open in the evenings.

The city council plans to make its savings in a number of ways, including axing 16 CLD jobs at both management and support staff levels.

Savings are also proposed in the city's literacy and numeracy programme and the Wester Hailes Education and Training Managers Group, which aims to encourage and expand education in the area.

Public sector union Unison warned today that losing support staff who carry out work in research, policy development, IT and training would have a negative impact on community centre's services as the tasks would then fall to staff on the front line.

John Ross, Unison service conditions convener, said it was unclear at this stage which jobs faced the axe and that employees were feeling "very vulnerable".

He said: "Our position is very clear. If we lose a job, we lose a service. If we have one compulsory redundancy, we will ballot a full membership for strike action."

The union is currently in talks with the council, and it is also considering staging a demonstration on the authority's budget day next month.

Labour's education spokesman, Councillor Andrew Burns, has also hit out at the proposed cuts, saying he was "astounded" by the recommendations.

He said: "It's supposed to be a review in terms of organisational efficiency, but it seems to be proposing taking away frontline community centre workers."

He added that cuts to janitorial overtime could have a "significant negative impact" on the provision of services in the evenings.

Community learning and development provides a range of services, including community-based education with children, young people and adults. There are 44 community centres in the city.

A council spokeswoman said: "This consultation with staff and stakeholders is part of a wider budget-setting process. All comments from the consultation will be reported to the council in February. Nothing has been decided yet."