Union warns council cuts will hit local economy 11/2/14
Jobs across the wider Western Isles economy will be lost due to harsh council cuts warns a local government union.
Budget cuts and service savings will have a drastic effect on private businesses in the islands, says senior union official, Flora Somerville (pictured).
A number of posts will go under Western Isles Council’s plans to slash its budget
by £2.5 million -
The knock-
Chairperson of the Unison Western Isles Local Government Branch, Ms Somerville, fears that for each job lost in the public sector, another is lost in the local economy.
She pointed out that Unison research shows that public sector workers spend 70% of their pay in local shops and businesses.
Ms Somerville stressed: “Job cuts are having an impact on employees who continue to deliver services despite the budget cuts.
“With every job that is cut there is a detrimental impact on the wider economy with less money being spent by individuals on local goods and services.
“The budget cuts in local government have an impact in the community with cuts to transport as well as cuts to grants for community organisations.”
“It is not just council jobs -
The union previously told the council tat the spectre of the axe falling on their livelihoods has a serious damaging effect on the wellbeing of the workforce.
Unison believes the low morale in the workforce, constant pressure of excessive workloads and uncertainty around the future of their jobs is making workers ill with worry resulting in increased sickness levels.
The union highlights that despite more work pressure, employees will get less union
representation -
A council spokesman said the council did not use redundancy as a direct way to save money but posts may suffer when services were redesigned to be more effective.
He stressed: “The council is well aware of the importance of jobs in the local economy.
“We have a policy of not using redundancy as a principal means of making savings.
“We have held discussions with the unions. In previous years the council had to make very difficult choices but, in the main, we have kept job losses to the minimum.”
Councillors will vote on a range of cuts on Thursday.