UNISON, the UK’s leading public sector trade union, today warned that 1500 job losses at Somerset County Council will pile misery onto the recession-hit region, hitting vital services, and spilling over into the local economy.
UNISON General Secretary, Dave Prentis, said:
“Job losses on this scale will hit the people of Somerset hard, scaling back vital community services, and hitting spending power. Cutting most new building projects will only make the dole queues longer. The jobs market is tough enough. People will struggle to find work elsewhere.
“This council is obsessed with freezing council tax, and this has added to the deficit. A modest increase makes a small difference to family budgets, but leaves a black hole in council finances. This money could, and should, be used to save jobs and services, and support the region through the downturn.
“This is the latest in a long line of job cuts in councils across the country. Earlier this month, 3000 job losses were announced at Nottingham County Council. In Lincolnshire, 1,400 full time posts are facing the axe, and a further 500 are set to go in Bolton.
“There is an alternative to the mantra of cuts. America is keeping up spending to boost recovery and stave off the dreaded double dip. UNISON is committed to protecting jobs and services. The ideological choice to cut the deficit hard and fast is causing misery to hundreds of thousands of people who work in and rely on public services.