In response to the Welsh government budget proposals around local government funding, Dominic MacAskill, UNISON Cymru/Wales head of local government, said:
“Local government in Wales is clearly the biggest loser from this budget and this level of funding has the potential to change the face of local government services throughout Wales.
“UNISON is fully aware that this budget proposal is not what the Welsh government would choose to allocate and that their hands are tied by the brutal funding cuts being imposed from Westminste – cuts which we know are ideological, unnecessary and that will have a detrimental impact on every community in Wales.
“UNISON will do all that it can to protect jobs and services – it is what we believe is right and it is what we believe communities and the economy needs. But this will only be possible in the long term if the UK coalition reverses its austerity agenda.
“To date, severe cuts in services have been avoided because staff have subsidised them through cuts to their pay and terms and conditions and by increasing their efficiency and productivity. UNISON is clear that the workers, who deliver our essential services, now have nothing left to sacrifice.
“I can say with absolute certainty that if these budget proposals go ahead, local government services in Wales will change dramatically and communities will see pot holes, library and leisure closures, and a lack of street lighting, become the norm.”
“UNISON is therefore calling on the people of Wales to stand up for their local government services and join with UNISON is calling on the Westminster government to change its austerity policies and develop an alternative vision which will provide hope for hard working public servants and for the services they provide our communities.”
