UNISON General Secretary in Stornoway visit to support case against cuts

Wed 20 Feb 2013

Dave Prentis, General Secretary of the UK’s largest public sector union, UNISON, will tomorrow (21 February, 2013), join members in Stornoway to add his voice to their opposition to spending cuts and job losses.

He will be attending and speaking at the union’s Western Isles local government branch AGM, scheduled to start at 3pm.  Over the past two years, 200 jobs have been cut and more are on the cards as a result of the Comhairle nan Eilean Siar (Western Isles Council) budget for 2013-15.

He will be urging the Comhairle to do all in its power to protect jobs and services.

Dave Prentis will say:

“The Western Isles rely heavily on the public sector for employment, for services and for maintaining the health of the local economy.  More job cuts will simply add to the misery of families affected and will do nothing to assist the economy.

“People out of work have no money to spend in the local shops and businesses, and the economy suffers as a result. All the evidence shows that there are few private sector jobs out there, apart from those that are part-time and low paid.

“This is not the time to cut jobs and the services that people need to help them through these tough times.

“UNISON will continue to fight spending cuts and make the case for real investment in real jobs to give us the real growth families so desperately need.”

Dave Prentis will also call on the Comhairle to join the growing band of Living Wage employers.

The Scottish Living Wage is currently set at £7.45 an hour.

ends

.