TOWN Hall unions at Warrington have expressed dismay over the borough council’s draft budget for the coming year which, they claim, will result in 54 job losses across the authority.
In a joint statement, Unison and GMB accused the council’s controlling Labour group of continuing to deliver the Coalition Government agenda of reducing local councils to “nothing more than an enabling authority.”
They said in addition to the 54 job losses, the proposals would see the outsourcing of services including Extracare, daycare and sheltered accommodation to a social enterprise, with a proposed saving of £450,000.
The statement said: “The Trade Unions would question the validity of an investigation into the set up of a social enterprise when the savings are already built in to savings proposals which will become reality if approved by full council.”
Unison spokesman Jason Horan said outsourcing services was not the answer.
” Last year saw Libraries, Leisure and Culture outsourced to two not for profit organisations, yet this year’s budget sees budget savings from Livewire and Culture Warrington to the tune of £575,000 which could equate to even more job losses to the 54 already quoted in the executive board report.
“Employees are already at breaking point with increased workloads due to the ongoing reduction of the workforce yet as a thanks for their dedication in tough times the Labour administration also propose a further attack on their terms and conditions.
“The Trade Unions cannot stand back without speaking out. We have a duty to protect public services and our members who deliver the valuable services to the residents of Warrington.”
TOWN Hall unions at Warrington have expressed dismay over the borough council's draft budget for the coming year which, they claim, will result in 54 job losses across the authority.
Union dismay over budget job losses
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Gary Skentelbery
Experienced journalist for more than 40 years. Managing Director of magazine publishing group with three in-house titles and on-line daily newspaper for Warrington. Experienced writer, photographer, PR consultant and media expert having written for local, regional and national newspapers. Specialties: PR, media, social networking, photographer, networking, advertising, sales, media crisis management. Chair of Warrington Healthwatch Director Warrington Chamber of Commerce Patron Tim Parry Johnathan Ball Foundation for Peace. Trustee Warrington Disability Partnership. Former Chairman of Warrington Town FC.
4 Comments
I’m dismayed why the taxpayers of this town have to pay these unions hundred of thousands of pounds in facilities agreements for office space in the town hall and pay their wages for doing union work at my and other taxpayers expense. If they are interested in job cuts lets see these individuals be the first to go, noet someone wqho works in social care
Hundreds of thousands of pounds, where are these offices, in a penthouse suite over looking the canal?? As a tax payer I’m sure you would have benefited in your workplace from the hard fought for rights won by the work of trade unions over the years, and maybe you could research the added benefits that trade unions give to employers, take your blinkers off, you may be surprised.
The council is there to provide services not jobs – jobs are merely a by-product, not the reason for the council. If it is more effective to outsource then fair enough.
Unions I think you need to do more homework and gather your facts prior to scare mongering in order to save yourselves, gone are your powers of years ago! People have no faith in you; never mind WBC.
Try talking to the people you are supposed to represent.