Union chiefs call on Edinburgh City Council to value staff and warn budget cuts are putting services ‘at point of collapse’

Union leaders have called on Edinburgh City Council to value their staff and have warned that budget cuts are putting services “at the point of collapse.”

Union leaders have called on Edinburgh City Council to value their staff and have warned that budget cuts are putting services “at the point of collapse.” Pic: Paul Rushton/Shutterstock

Members of Unison’s city of Edinburgh branch fear further budget cuts being presented to the city council’s full meeting on Thursday, and say “continued underfunding” from the Scottish and UK governments over the past decade has resulted in hundreds of job losses, cuts to services and the closing of third sector organisations.

Edinburgh’s Unison branch secretary, Tom Connolly, said: “Local government is at the point of collapse and the Scottish and UK Governments have done very little to prevent its demise while at the same time due to Covid-19 has asked it to do more.

“Providing services from the cradle to the grave, local government and the services it provides impact on all citizens. The continuing underfunding can have a serious impact on the effectiveness of the services being provided.”

Unison says those employed in local government are “fire fighting” to keep services running, feel undervalued and that increasing high levels of stress amongst staff is an example of the negative impact on the health and wellbeing on those staff.

Mr Connolly continued: “Everyone suffers if local government is not provided the funding that it needs to provide meaningful services across our communities.

“Staff in local government need to be rewarded and paid well for the jobs that they do, there are many low paid workers in local government providing face to face support to or most vulnerable children and adults, in school, care homes etc.

“Other council staff keep our public buildings clean, keep our roads clear, clean our streets and empty our bins, administrative and clerical workers dealing with benefits and other essential administrative tasks, all examples of low paid and undervalued workers who have continued to keep the city running.

“These workers now need to be given the value that they have always deserved and rewarded with decent pay and conditions. Clapping does not pay the bills.”

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