Beware the public sector reform strategy

Amy Snell

Public services were at the forefront of the afternoon’s debates and delegates slammed the Scottish Government’s public sector reform strategy which is a clear threat to public services and especially council services.

Seconding the composite from PCS and ATUC, Amy Snell told Congress that the strategy is about saving money by reducing the workforce, shifting services out of the public sector and centralising.

“We are told this is all about prevention. But where is the serious action on poverty, on long term underfunding, or the reason demand is rising in the first place?”

She called for a strategy “that starts with workers, not cuts. One that fixes the real problem, underfunding, lack of resources, broken systems,” and called on Congress to stand with workers and for the future of our public services.

Thank you to all workers providing vital services in the worst snow in a decade

Aberdeen Trades Union Council (ATUC) wishes to thank all the workers in Aberdeen City and across Aberdeenshire that went above and beyond in the Wintery conditions earlier in January to protect the citizens of the North East - especially the most vulnerable.

This is when the absolute value of public services and the workers who provide them is laid bare. We have heard many stories of NHS staff's valiant efforts to get into hospitals and health centres, carers going the extra mile to ensure vulnerable older people are not left isolated, the workers who plough the roads and pavements, out in all weathers, the emergency service workers braving the elements, and many many more. We thank all of you.

We recognise that the situation was made even more challenging by the cuts that councils and other public services have faced over 15 years of austerity. We have written to Aberdeen City Council to express our concerns at some of the unreasonable demands made on some, mainly low paid women workers, to get into their work when other colleagues were able to stay at home. 

With climate change we are likely to see more such severe weather events. Aberdeen Trades Union Council calls on all employers to ensure their workers are kept safe in providing services at these times and that the impact of cuts is identified to the Scottish Government to ensure that lessons are learned for the future.

ATUC and individual trade unions will continue to campaign for properly funded public services, for the health and safety of the workforce and for the benefit of the citizens of the North East of Scotland.