Union to protest over job cuts

The local branch will demonstrate outside the Civic Centre in Motherwell at 12.30pm.

Unison’s demo follows the council’s shock proposal last week to axe hundreds of jobs over the next two years in a bid to save £45million from its budget.

Willie Duffy, UNISON regional officer for North Lanarkshire local government said: “We promised to take our campaign to save North Lanarkshire’s public services out to the communities and this is exactly what we are doing.

“We are calling for an end to austerity, to get more financial support from the Scottish Government and to force North Lanarkshire Council to think again.

“It is the most vulnerable people who will suffer because of this decision. North Lanarkshire Council need to consider what other options they have to mitigate the serious impact this decision will have on local services, jobs and the local economy, which is set to lose £26 million.”

North Lanarkhsire Council has said the job cuts - which represent 10 per cent of its workforce - will come from existing vacancies and voluntary severance where possible.