Unions slam Tory council loading Southampton with £100 million
black hole but still attacking jobs
30 September 2011
Workers get ready for action on 6
October
Unite and Unison have demanded to know why one of the country's
biggest Tory councils, Southampton, is planning to raise nearly
£100 million of unsecured borrowing for unnecessary capital
projects, such as the Titanic Museum and Civic Centre
refurbishments, yet remains determined to cut workers' jobs and
wages.
The unions question why the council has forced through 5.5 per
cent wage cuts and is expected to press on with more budget cuts
this autumn - but is borrowing tens of millions of pounds. Unite
and Unison say that borrowed money must be ploughed into saving the
city's jobs and services.
The call comes as Unite announces a full membership walk out at
Southampton on 6 October, the date when the city's Unison members
in social care will also take strike action.
Minutes of Southampton city council meetings reveal plans to
double unsecured borrowing to £78 million this year and then to
raise it year on year over the following three years to £96
million. The borrowing increase runs alongside the council's
aggressive strategy of cutting the pay of more than 4,000 of its
workforce, which has plunged the authority into months of
industrial unrest.
Papers presented to the council earlier this month detail
repayments of interest alone of £4.8 million this year, money which
the union say ought to be used to maintain services for the
needy.
Ian Woodland, regional industrial officer, said: “So much for
Tory councils being financially responsible. Yes, borrowing money
is one way to combat the cuts, but if the council is levering in
substantial sums yet failing to use these to secure jobs,
communities and the very stability of our city, then what is this
money for?
"Royston Smith must come clean. This £100 million must be used
to support the jobs and services Southampton's people pay for and
want.
"It is not the rubbish collectors, or dinner ladies or
librarians who are ’maxing out’ Southampton's credit card. This
Tory administration now needs to tell Southampton's people why they
are borrowing big with their money."
Mark Wood, Unite convenor, added that the workers' resolve to
challenge the council's cuts’ strategy remains high: “Months into
this dispute and workers are still prepared to take action to
defend their jobs and this community against cuts. That shows you
their determination to get this council to do the right thing”.
Mike Tucker, Unison branch secretary, said: “Next week it will
be three months since these cuts were imposed on our members and
they are still up for the fight. The council must realise that the
only way to resolve this dispute is through negotiation.”
More than a thousand workers in social care, refuse collection,
street cleansing, parking, building works and port health and from
all services throughout the council, are poised to take strike
action on 6 October. Members of Unite and Unison have been taking
strategic strike action over the summer in an attempt to convince
the council to think again on imposed wage cuts of up to 5.5 per
cent.
To date, the industrial dispute has already cost the local
authority millions of pounds. Since November 2010 the unions have
proposed wage freezes and temporary pay cuts as a means of
balancing its budget while retaining services. The council has
consistently rejected this, forcing the industrial action which
began this summer.
ENDS
For further information, please contact the Unite Press Office
on 020 3371 2065 or Pauline Doyle on 07976 832861 or Ian Woodland
on 07707 704480
