Ghost town fears over council cuts

Job losses will hit shops —union warning

SWINGEING cuts to council jobs will have a knock-on effect that will turn Oldham into a ghost town, claim unions.

Fewer workers will mean fewer people in the shops, sales will suffer, and already struggling shops could face closure.

Six unions turned out in the town centre to protest against proposed job cuts yesterday, claiming they will have a devastating effect on people and communities.

Around 40 members took a stance outside the market hall, waving placards, handing out leaflets and appealing for public support.

They urged people to lobby local councillors to vote against job cuts and Wendy Bradbury, Unison branch chairman, warned: “People will vote with their feet when it comes to the next election.”

She said that although 800 council jobs had been put under threat, some would be part-time, and the true number of people put out of work would be closer to 1,000.

“Take them out of Oldham’s infrastructure and the effect will be staggering,” she said.

“We should be creating jobs and boosting the economy.”

National Union of Teachers’ branch secretary Tony Harrison said: “We realise the council is under massive pressure, but we believe there are alternatives to job cuts that are not being properly considered. There is £120 billion in the UK of tax that is being evaded, avoided or uncollected which amounts to more than the cuts announced in the Government’s spending review.

“They could introduce a Robin Hood tax of 0.05 per cent on large financial transactions that would bring in £30 billion.

“Our view is that the Government is not prepared to do that because it targets the rich, and it is much easier to take on the vulnerable.”

The public sector unions ATL, GMB, NASUWT, NUT, UNISON and Unite were all involved in yesterday’s demonstration, and will be handing out leaflets in Oldham town centre today and tomorrow.

They vowed to fight on and have organised a public meeting for Tuesday, December 14, at Chadderton Town Hall from 4-6pm for trade unionists and community groups to oppose the cuts, and a mass lobby outside the Civic Centre will take place the following day, December 15, from 3.30pm.