Essex Cuts

PRESS RELEASE - FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - NO EMBARGO

21st October 2009

£300m ESSEX CUTS WILL IMPACT ON SERVICES FEARS UNISON

Public Services union UNISON has expressed deep concern at the proposed £300m cuts in spending announced by Essex County Council this week. The union consider it inevitable that this will impact on services and jobs in Essex.

Mick Mahoney, Essex Branch Secretary said

"Such a serious cut in the Council's annual budget will have disastrous implications for services and jobs throughout the County. We are particularly concerned that the front line services for the volnerable, disabled, children and those in adult social care will be acutely affected.

We are also extremely concerned that these cuts will inevitably create significant job losses in Essex at a time when the Council should be looking to maintain levels of staffing in order to sustain services to the public, in these harsh economic times.

The Council must urgently provide detailed information to both the public and our members on how they propose to make these savings and yet continue to deliver services to the people of Essex."

UNISON has condemned the growing consensus that public service cuts will be necessary to pay for a financial crises caused by private banks and vowed to step up its Million Voices campaign for public services and a fairer society. Add your voice to our million voices at unison.org.uk.

ENDS