Councillors face the wrath of union’s angry members
Reporter: Anna Clarke and Marina Berry at Oldham Council
Date published: 13 December 2012
UNISON’s council meeting protest
COUNCILLORS were heckled over budget decisions as they arrived for the full council meeting last night.
Council members of union Unison picketed their offices and took to the Civic Centre car park, shortly before councillors considered the budget for the next two years.
Waving placards and flags and singing anti-austerity songs, they called on council members to justify the ex[ected 300 new job losses and service reductions involved in further cuts of £31 million.
A spokesman said: “Unison understands that the huge reductions in the council’s funding made by this Tory Government leave the council with tough decisions to make.
“But we believe they are making the decisions without having a clear understanding about the rationale and costings for the proposed structure.”
The protesters also attended the meeting and raised issues about cuts to adult social care, school crossing patrols and pay.
