‘We will help’ pledge over jobs bombshell

HOW the Chronicle reported the bombshell on Friday

BOSSES have pledged to support beleaguered staff following Oldham’s triple jobs bombshell.

Workers have been left fearing the worst after Oldham Council announced that 800 jobs could be axed to save £45 million, NHS Oldham admitted posts could go to save £10 million and the Royal Oldham Hospital was facing staff cuts to help save £120 million. Unions say it will devastate Oldham but new employment opportunities are already emerging with staff told they will be helped through the process.

At the council, a 90-day consultation period is under way with the earliest that any job losses will be announced being January.

Councillor Lynne Thompson, cabinet member for performance and value for public money, said that when Slumberland closed in Oldham, and with previous council job losses, successful plans were put in place to support staff and help find new opportunities. This will now be repeated.

She said: “We have got the plan now and are ready to swing into action. I won’t pretend it’s not a real problem but we are ready to do everything we can to minimise the impact. And efforts have not stopped to attract private and public sector jobs into Oldham.”

The council is looking to save money through more efficient use of office space and reducing purchases.

To reduce job losses, action includes offering new posts internally first, reducing agency staff, reduced hours and flexible retirement options. Volunteers will be sought in preference to compulsory redundancy.

Staff support will include advice and facilities to help search for jobs, flexibility to attend job interviews and confidential counselling.

But Giovanna Holt, senior organiser for union GMB, warned: “These job losses will be devastating for the whole of Oldham. The impact will not be just on the employees who lose their jobs but on local services as well.

“These public sector job cuts will in fact mean losses in the private sector as well. For many, many households in Oldham the effects will be devastating.”

And NUT branch secretary Tony Harrison believes it’s a myth that cuts are the only option.

He said: “There is no need for cuts to public services. Creating jobs instead of cutting them will boost the economy and cut the deficit.”

He said more people in employment meant more taxes collected and less benefits handed out. He also pointed out a £120 billion tax gap of evaded, avoided and uncollected tax.