Council threatens to cut 1,000 jobs

Unions, representing the vast majority of the council's workers, have called on councillors to reject plans for 1,000 more job losses and not put vital services on the line.

Unison, GMB and Unite branches in the city have written to every city councillor urging each one to "use all available financial mechanisms to hold-off any further cuts."

Unison Glasgow branch secretary Brian Smith, on behalf of the three unions, said: "There is no more room to cut. Over 2,500 jobs have already been cut by Glasgow City Council since 2010 - that is more than 10 per cent of the workforce.

"Elected members have a choice - make the cuts or demand an end to the slash-and-burn austerity policies of the Con-Dems and fight for a return of the tens of millions stolen from Glasgow in the last few years."

Unison said the council appeared to confirm a story previously leaked to the media that up to 1,000 further voluntary redundancies were being sought in order to achieve a target cut of £49 million over the next two years.

Chief executive George Black had apparently indicated a further "targeted" voluntary severance trawl will be offered to not only those staff members over 50 years of age as previously, but also under-50s.

Unison said workers at Labour-controlled Southampton City Council had voted overwhelmingly to accept a deal to end a long-running dispute over pay cuts imposed by the previous Conservative leadership.

Under the deal, those earning between £17,000 and £22,000 - full time equivalent - will see their pay restored in November.

Those earning between £22,000 and £35,000 will see their pay restored in three instalments between November and April 2014, while those earning over £35,000 will have to wait until 2015 for their pay to be fully restored.

In return for the settlement, Unison and Unite will withdraw all legal action against the council and call off ongoing industrial action.