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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Council workers vote for strike | Council workers vote for strike |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| Edinburgh council workers have voted to take strike action over threatened cuts and redundancies. | Edinburgh council workers have voted to take strike action over threatened cuts and redundancies. |
| The Unison union said about 8,000 of its members voted by more than two to one to strike, following a ballot. | The Unison union said about 8,000 of its members voted by more than two to one to strike, following a ballot. |
| The action is due to take place on 23 August to coincide with the council meeting which the union claims will vote through the cuts. | The action is due to take place on 23 August to coincide with the council meeting which the union claims will vote through the cuts. |
| A council statement said the strike was "disaapointing" but it was essential that it balanced the books. | A council statement said the strike was "disaapointing" but it was essential that it balanced the books. |
| A Unison spokesman warned that a programme of selective action and boycotts would follow. | A Unison spokesman warned that a programme of selective action and boycotts would follow. |
| He said the action could be called off if the union was given assurances that there would be no redundancies and no extra pressure put onto staff due to cuts. | He said the action could be called off if the union was given assurances that there would be no redundancies and no extra pressure put onto staff due to cuts. |
| Even at this late stage, the council's own staff and their union have been kept in the dark about what the cuts options are George LeeUnison class="" href="/1/hi/scotland/edinburgh_and_east/6950948.stm">Schools marked for closure | |
| George Lee, Unison's Edinburgh branch secretary, said: "Council services are all about people. People use the services and people deliver them. | George Lee, Unison's Edinburgh branch secretary, said: "Council services are all about people. People use the services and people deliver them. |
| "They are home helps, education and social work staff, engineers, road workers, environmental health staff. | "They are home helps, education and social work staff, engineers, road workers, environmental health staff. |
| "You cannot make cuts of up to £16m without the threat of redundancies among the people delivering those services. | "You cannot make cuts of up to £16m without the threat of redundancies among the people delivering those services. |
| He added: "Even at this late stage, the council's own staff and their union have been kept in the dark about what the cuts options are. | He added: "Even at this late stage, the council's own staff and their union have been kept in the dark about what the cuts options are. |
| "The only thing the council has been clear about is that it cannot rule out redundancies." | "The only thing the council has been clear about is that it cannot rule out redundancies." |
| Financial situation | Financial situation |
| A total of 1,601 (70.8%) council workers voted in favour of strike action (70.8%) while 661 (29.2%) voted against. | A total of 1,601 (70.8%) council workers voted in favour of strike action (70.8%) while 661 (29.2%) voted against. |
| A council statement said the strike was "very disappointing news". | A council statement said the strike was "very disappointing news". |
| It said: "We greatly value our staff, appreciate the effort and commitment they give to providing services, and want to work with them to put the budget back on a sound footing again. | It said: "We greatly value our staff, appreciate the effort and commitment they give to providing services, and want to work with them to put the budget back on a sound footing again. |
| "The council faces a serious financial situation but we are determined to take the action necessary to address the overspend. | "The council faces a serious financial situation but we are determined to take the action necessary to address the overspend. |
| "It is essential that we balance our books while delivering the highest possible quality of service for the people of Edinburgh." | "It is essential that we balance our books while delivering the highest possible quality of service for the people of Edinburgh." |