This is the latest in a series of protests against cuts in both Aberdeen City and Aberdeenshire Council, where much of social care is under threat.
Very few councillors came to meet the demonstrators, demanding that services to the most vulnerable in our communities are not targeted for draconian cuts. Instead, with some honourable exceptions, they scurried through internal corridors to miss those of us campaigning to save jobs and services.
They then voted through a number of cuts that will impact on both staff and the people who depend on the services.
Unions have condemned the to the most vulnerable in our communities and the attacks, especially on women workers and pledged that the campaign will continue to defend jobs and services. Outsourcing of home care will mean redundancies and cuts to pay, and all the evidence shows that private companies provide poorer services. Cuts to staffing in residential homes will leave residents vulnerable and a reduction in day care services for adults with learning disabilities will leave many with nowhere to go.
“The Scottish Government has been pledging to improve care services for our most vulnerable communities through their failed National Care Service bill. But there is a huge disconnect between their lofty rhetoric and the situation on the ground where care services are on their knees.
“Our members are hugely worried about their jobs. But more than that. They are deeply worried about the people they support and how they will manage without the care they provide.”
