Campaigners from the Lorne Street Community Centre

Trade unionists and community activists braved the cold and the wet on Thursday 28th Jan to demonstrate their opposition to Glasgow City Council’s proposed budget cuts.They gathered outside the City Chambers as councillors met inside to set the city’s budget for 2010/11.

The lobby had been organised by UNISON Glasgow City Branch to protest at a series of cuts that will attack jobs and services.

The protestors cheered when Brian Smith, UNISON Branch Secretary of the citywide union branch declared that “neither the citizens of Glasgow nor council workers should be asked to pay for the bail out of banks and the mistakes of bankers.”

Amongst a raft of cuts the council propose to close school kitchens, reduce support to disabled people, close 12 community centres, introduce charges for school breakfast clubs, close day care centres for people with learning disabilities, reduce welfare rights officers, slash in half the number of community workers, reduce grants to voluntary organisations and lose up to 600 council jobs.

Brian Smith UNISON Branch Sec

Last Saturday, (January 23rd) a meeting was organised by the union at which over 100 people attended to put in place plans to oppose the council. (For a full report click here)

STV New report here

UNISON Glasgow website here