Unions to fight cuts at Aberdeen council

Staff on annual salaries of more than 21,000 were offered the option of taking a 5 per cent pay cut to fund a round of voluntary redundancies, but the proposal was rejected by workers.

Today, representatives from the unions Unite, UCATT (Union of Construction, Allied Trades and Technicians), GMB, Unison and EIS (Educational Institute of Scotland) met in Aberdeen to discuss how to oppose the cuts.

A spokeswoman for Unison said: "We are very disappointed that the council are refusing to engage constructively to avoid compulsory redundancies.

"We think there are other steps which can be taken to cut costs.

"We will be vigorously opposing the number of and extent of the redundancies in local consultations going forward."

Strike action over the cuts has not been ruled out.

More than 2,000 staff at the council are Unison members.

Yesterday, a council spokesman said: "Aberdeen City Council must reduce the size of its workforce because of reductions in central government funding for the public sector and because of budget decisions to deliver our services in different ways in the future.

"The recognised trade unions have, however, rejected the option of a 5% pay reduction for staff earning more than 21,000 a year in order to help fund a further round of voluntary severance.

"In line with the council's decision last month, there is therefore no alternative but to move to compulsory redundancies."