In response to the statement made at the Seneddbout local government reform by public services minister Leighton Andrews, UNISON Cymru/Wales secretaryMargaret Thomas, said:
“We welcome the statement made by the minister for public services yesterday about his plans for local government reorganisation.
“It is clear that the minister has taken on board comments that UNISON has made about the unrest that communities and the workforce are experiencing as they face reorganisation.
“In addition, the minister has acknowledged our point that the continuation of service cuts and so-called efficiency savings are not enough to meet the financial pressures that local authorities face.
“As we know, demand for services is increasing but the resources available continue to decline. A reorganisation of local government that provides a structure for the needs of our communities today and in the long term is the only way to mitigate the squeeze on services.
“It is understandable that people feel uncertain about what lies ahead, but I am certain that local government services will fail at some point unless we address this head on.
“Local communities are crying out for strong quality public services and public sector workers are committed to providing those quality services.
“We have an opportunity to ensure that those services are available and can be provided to those who need them, not only for today but for generations to come.
“We must not consider these possibilities as individual stakeholders in the here and now. We must think about the long term good of the wider community and the workforce.
“Changes to public services in Wales need to be made, so let’s make sure that they are fit for purpose and stand the test of time.
“There is a lot of work to be done, and it won’t all be plain sailing, but it is essential that we begin that work positively.
“UNISON looks forward to working with the Welsh Government and public sector employers to ensure that our members and the communities that they serve receive strong and sustainable quality services.”
