This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/scotland/glasgow_and_west/8475960.stm
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Union campaigns on spending cuts | Union campaigns on spending cuts |
| (about 7 hours later) | |
| The Glasgow branch of Scotland's largest public sector union has held an open meeting to fight proposed service cuts by the city council. | |
| Unison said the plans would see up to 600 staff at the council and its arms-length bodies lose their jobs. | Unison said the plans would see up to 600 staff at the council and its arms-length bodies lose their jobs. |
| Areas affected include welfare rights, voluntary organisations and home care. | Areas affected include welfare rights, voluntary organisations and home care. |
| The council said difficult decisions needed to be taken, but it was confident it could protect priority service areas. | The council said difficult decisions needed to be taken, but it was confident it could protect priority service areas. |
| The union meeting, which was open to the public, took place at the Unison branch office in Albion Street. | |
| Unison branch secretary, Brian Smith, said: "Neither the people of Glasgow nor public service workers caused this economic crisis and they should not have to pay to bail out irresponsible bankers. | Unison branch secretary, Brian Smith, said: "Neither the people of Glasgow nor public service workers caused this economic crisis and they should not have to pay to bail out irresponsible bankers. |
| "Unison has started a Scotland-wide campaign to unite users and providers of public services to stand up against the political demand to cut our services. | "Unison has started a Scotland-wide campaign to unite users and providers of public services to stand up against the political demand to cut our services. |
| "This is a first step in building that public works campaign in Glasgow." | |
| But city treasurer Gordon Matheson said the council was having to deal with the first of many difficult years ahead trying to deal with the "twin problems of the worldwide recession and the Scottish Executive's decision to punish the people of Glasgow with the smallest grant increase in Scotland". | But city treasurer Gordon Matheson said the council was having to deal with the first of many difficult years ahead trying to deal with the "twin problems of the worldwide recession and the Scottish Executive's decision to punish the people of Glasgow with the smallest grant increase in Scotland". |
| He added: "I am confident, however, that we can protect our priority areas of skills and the economy, early years and education, and targeted support for the most vulnerable people in society." | He added: "I am confident, however, that we can protect our priority areas of skills and the economy, early years and education, and targeted support for the most vulnerable people in society." |