Worries over public sector intensify
Thousands of UK public sector workers have started receiving grim news regarding their jobs just days before Christmas.
The GMB union warned that risk warning letters are currently hitting doormats across the country as councils and similar services begin serving legal notice of cuts that are to be made. In particular, it says that workers are set to face a miserable Christmas as a staggering 87,374 posts are under threat across 107 UK councils.
While these figures are enough to worry anyone, Local Government Minister Mr Grant Shapps has accused trade unions of sexing up stories regarding job cuts in order to make political gains. Nearly all local borough authorities have until the 31st of March to start making their savings and by law must give staff at least 90 days’ notice. The redundancies follow heavy cuts to local councils’ budgets as part of the coalition government’s austerity measures.
Speaking on the news, GMB National Secretary Mr Brian Strutton warned that each and each job lost is a tragedy and more often than not leaves a family left desperate and despairing for its future. In the event that letters of warning have already been received, Christmases for thousands this year have already been ruined and 2011 will get off to a shaky start before it has even begun. Clearly concerned for the well being of others, union officers have started consulting members on what they should do in an unprecedented situation that comes during one of the bleakest periods of the UK’s modern history.