Council unions today lobbied Aberdeenshire Council’s budget meeting to protest against draconian cuts to jobs and services to our most vulnerable citizens.
Organised by UNISON, activists were joined by Aberdeen Trade Union Council (ATUC), GMB and Unite at a protest at Woodhill House. Protesters demanded a rethink on cuts and privatisation signposted by the council. Plans to axe social care services have been described by UNISON branch secretary, Inez Kirk as “shortsighted” coming as they do when the demand for social care is only increasing and support needs are greater.
She slammed cuts to preventative services, such as ARCH, and has warned that the handing home care services over to the third or private sector and slashing over a third of the care homes and very sheltered housing budget, will hit the most vulnerable in our community very hard.
Inez said, “This may reduce the budget initially, but it will move care to the cheapest provider and wages and terms and conditions will be cut, which will not help recruitment which is already in crisis.”
She warned that there are already a shortage of care homes in Aberdeenshire, with private providers closing homes and no new ones being built. “If the council reduces care home places then that will leave very vulnerable people with no place to go and will add to delayed discharges from hospitals.”
said “We are here expressing our support and solidarity with the Trade Unions fighting back against all council cuts.“These cuts will have a serious detrimental effect on care for the elderly. The Trade Unions fight back is also our fight on behalf of the elderly and their families. We are sticking together to stand up for all our retired members and the wider community. We call upon the UK and Scottish governments to make the super rich pay their proper taxes , then there would be plenty of money to spend on our much needed council services.”
Inez added, “These proposals are short sighted and only look to deal with the perceived short term problem, whilst creating an even bigger problem down the line. They are bad for those needing a service, bad for staff, bad for local communities and make no financial sense.”
She urged the council to work with staff, who know the role, and with the people that use the services, to create and maintain a truly sustainable budget in social care.