Threatened council cuts staff tell local politicians: ‘Walk a mile with me’

Frontline public servants in Orkney Islands Council facing reductions in pay of up to ten per cent have invited local councillors to join them for a day at work.

Trade union GMB Scotland members want to show the value of the services they deliver day-in, day-out across the islands ahead of a decisive meeting of the council’s policy and resources committee on Tuesday, November 29.

OIC claim they must make £9.5 million in savings over the next three years as a result of the Scottish Government’s ongoing cuts to local government funding, but workers say the cuts will significantly impact on local public service delivery.

Over 98 per cent of GMB Scotland members rejected OIC cut plans in a consultative ballot last week.

Liz Gordon from GMB Scotland said: “The council are proposing unacceptable, unfair and unsustainable levels of cuts and our members are very much prepared to proceed to a strike ballot if they are enacted.

“But we want the council to think again ahead of their decision-making later this month and the best way to try and win hearts and minds is to give firsthand experience of the vital services our members deliver.

“That’s why our members have asked every elected representative in the Orkney islands to ‘walk a mile with me’, so they all have a clear understanding of the services OIC will be compromising if they proceed with this plan.”