Case Study: Cuts - but campaign saves services for most vulnerable

by Fiona Montgomery

Excellent campaigning work by members in South Lanarkshire saw councillors pull back from some controversial cuts affecting the most vulnerable people.

Members were also pleased to avoid any compulsory redundancies and to head off ‘unfair’ car parking charges at council headquarters, described as a regressive tax on workers.

The UNISON branch had warned that 20.6% of the 2011/12 cuts package would hit elderly, disabled and low income families hardest, as well as children with Additional Support Needs (ASN) in education.

An analysis by branch secretary Stephen Smellie was sent to every councillor. The work put into the detailed examination of the human cost of cuts is just what the union has been calling for in these campaigns.

Instead of just numbers, it helps expose the real effects on people, not just in South Lanarkshire, but across Scotland.

Stephen’s analysis showed that of nearly £28m of proposed savings, a fifth were cuts in services and created new or increased charges that would severely affect those groups.

Examples included: cutting funds to voluntary groups for services for adults with learning disabilities and mental health problems; cutting posts supporting ASN children and removing a play therapy budget for them; axing footwear and clothing grants for children of families on benefits.

Stephen said that £5.7m worth of cuts were “targeted directly at the most vulnerable in the community.”

He added: “Nothing illustrates more clearly that David Cameron’s claim that we are all in this together is a lie. This is the reality of his government’s policy - make the poor and weakest pay for crisis while the rich are protected.”

The branch also lobbied hard on the planned introduction of car parking charges at the Hamilton council HQ. They detailed 11 reasons why the ‘tax’ would be unfair to those on low incomes who need to bring a car to work, calling for a review to address how to make existing and any new charges fairer for part-time and low paid workers and those with the most fuel efficient cars.

Branch chair Margaret Gallacher said, following approval of the final £715m budget, that partnership working at the council had been tremendously important in some of the success of their lobbying work.

She added: “The cuts included closing two day care centres and they are not closing any now. They are not making the cuts to play therapy for children with ASN, nor cutting the ASN posts and support staff jobs”. The council also agreed to abandon an increase in school meals prices.

“Because we have a partnership agreement, we get in early, get all the budget papers and can target the worst of the cuts.

“In September all the trade unions within South Lanarkshire set up a conference and agreed our priorities, with the number one priority being no compulsory redundancies.

“We have managed to achieve that. It is disappointing that 340-350 posts will go, but it will be through redeployment and not filling vacancies.”

headlines . top