Aberdeenshire UNISON members today (13 Feb 2018) delivered a Valentine’s Day card to Gillian Martin, MSP calling on all local SNP MSPs to support an increase in funding for council services and to give council staff a decent pay rise.
Kate Ramsden, Branch Chair said, “We are told that with the additional monies secured by the Greens, this will be a standstill budget but that’s not the case.
“In Aberdeenshire we are facing budget cuts of £20 million which will mean cuts to jobs and services.
“The council is proposing to cut staff numbers across a range of services including pupil support assistants, music instructors, special needs teachers, leisure staff and janitors in schools, community learning and library provision.
“All these services are important for our children, as well as other vulnerable groups within our communities.”
Steve Gray, Vice-Chair added, “With the pay cap and pay freezes, our members have endured pay cuts of 14-18% over the past 8 years.
“We have been told by the Scottish government that public service workers will get a 3% pay rise but they have not given councils the money to fund this. Even with the additional funding there is a shortfall of £80 million across Scotland.
“This is not good enough!
“We are asking the SNP government to value our council services and the workers who deliver them and to recognise the importance of the work we do for all our citizens, but especially the most vulnerable.
“And to take this into account when they finalise budget allocations to councils.”
The card has been signed by UNISON members in the council and members of the public.
The verse in the card reads:
“Roses are red,
Violets are blue
Love your council services,
Your council workers too
Value all the work we do
Each and every day
Give us decent funding
Give us decent pay
Be our Valentine!”