Unite reaction to LGA’s prediction of 140,000 council jobs to be lost next year
Unite reaction to LGA’s prediction of 140,000 council jobs to be lost next year
Unite’s national officer, Peter Allenson said:
“The coalition’s attack on local authorities is unjustified and now its savagery is also becoming clear. In a few short weeks since the spending review, the LGA says that job losses for 2011 have been grossly underestimated.
“Even communities and local government secretary Eric Pickles is starting to get cold feet as it dawns on him the devastation his government is unleashing and he’s now desperate for extra treasury cash to ease the pain.
“But while the Chancellor ignores cries to help local government, the Prime Minister squanders £2 m on a happiness index costing £2 million. 140,000 decent jobs will be scrapped next year, cuts of 40-45 percent in capital expenditure and cuts of 20-25 percent in revenue and services will hit ordinary people very hard and kill our communities. Not much happiness there to celebrate.
“This is one occasion where we very much hope that Secretary of State, Eric Pickles is listened to. The coalition must think again about its plans for local services because this is real people’s lives we are talking about here.”
ENDS
Contact: Ciaran Naidoo on 07768 931 315
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