Unite members protest at EHRC cuts to job and services
22 February 2012
Members of Unite will be protesting about swingeing cuts to jobs
and services at the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC)
tomorrow (Thursday 23 February).
Unite, the largest union in the country, believes that the work
of this flagship organisation will be severely hit by cuts with the
budget being axed by 63 per cent and staff cut by 72 per cent by
2015, compared to 2007 levels.
Unite EHRC members will be showing support to the PCS union,
which is taking industrial action tomorrow, at the back of the
Norton Rose Building in Tooley Street, London, SE1 2RG - EHRC’s
London headquarters - from 8.30am until 2:00pm. There will be a
similar protest at the EHRC’s Lancaster House, Birmingham.
In a briefing for MPs Unite said: ”The frontline services such
as the helpline, grants function, mediation, regional outreach work
with communities and most casework are to be axed, the staff levels
cut by over 60 per cent, and the overall budget to be slashed from
£70 million at its inception in 2007 to as little as £17 million by
2015.
”All Helpline staff give telephone and email advice to
individuals with discrimination complaints, and the regional team
work with stakeholders and local communities. The expertise of
expert and experienced staff will be thrown away and crucial
services will be lost.”
Unite regional officer Di Scott-Brown said: ”The EHRC is
collaborating with the coalition by pushing forward with these cuts
which will have the effect of dismantling the progress in equality
and human rights that this country has made in recent decades.
”Our members feel that they have been fobbed off by the
management whenever they have come up with constructive proposals
to ameliorate the financial situation facing the organisation.
”The level of cuts to staff have yet to become clear, but we
understand that the EHRC wants a workforce of 150-180, down from a
total of 475.”
TUC general secretary Brendan Barber has written to home
secretary Theresa May expressing concern.
ENDS
Notes to news editors:
For further information, please contact Unite communications
officer, Shaun Noble on 07768 693940
