Union slams council's savage cuts

UNION bosses at Warrington have accused the borough council of failing to consider the human impact of “savage cuts.”
Elected members and the senior management team are only interested in balancing the books, says UNISON.
The union also expresses disappointed that the council has not accepted a challenge for councillors or senior officers to “go undercover” to learn the value of their workforce.
Joint branch secretary Jason Horan said the council was continuing to employ costly consultants and agency workers despite being “caught out” spending £28 million in this way.
He said: “Before they continue with the culling of jobs, perhaps elected members and the senior managers should take a reality check and dispose of the costly consultants and temporary agency staff that cost the council huge amounts of tax payers money.”
As reported by warrington-worldwide last month, UNISON issued a challenge to councillors and senior officers to go undercover to observe the work carried out by frontline staff and learn something about the impact job cuts would have on services and employees.
Mr Horan said: “It is no surprise to UNISON that we received very little response. In fact, out of 57 councillors we received two responses, both of which stated that they couldn’t afford the time to go undercover and see for themselves the valuable services that council employees provide.”
They also received a response from chief executive Diana Terris, (pictured right) who said that while the idea had met with a measure of agreement, it would be difficult for senior decision makers to maintain anonymity.
“She then went on to say she wishes to spend more time seeing front line services and that consideration is being given as to what might be possible. “UNISON waits with baited breath for how this will be undertaken but don’t hold out much hope.
“If our challenge had been met with a degree of seriousness then a way to maintain anonymity would be found.
“Elected members and the senior management team are only interested in balancing the books, Perhaps they should be considering the human impact of the savage cuts and how their decisions are going to impact on the welfare of their employees?
“Before they continue with the culling of jobs, perhaps elected members and the senior managers should take a reality check and dispose of the costly consultants and temporary agency staff that cost Warrington Borough Council huge amounts of tax payers money.”

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