Public sector jobs disappearing in droves

Rob Johnston, Midlands TUC Regional Secretary

Commenting on the latest public sector employment figures published today (Thursday) by the Office for National Statistics, Midlands TUC Regional Secretary Rob Johnston said: " All across the UK public sector jobs are disappearing in droves as local councils, government agencies and the health service are forced to cut services to the core as the Chancellor's austerity measures hit hard."
'Over 43,000 public sector workers  lost their jobs across the midlands in the year to September 2011, this at a time when finding work has never been harder.

'The government claims that the private sector can create enough jobs to make up for the jobs being lost in the public sector but these figures suggest it's nowhere near enough.

'Ministers must see that their economic policies are doing huge harm, and with more spending cuts coming down the track and the recovery still weak, thousands more public servants will soon be swelling the ranks of the unemployed.

'A change of direction which has jobs and growth at its heart is now long overdue.'

GMB tracks 226,472 jobs under threat in the public sector

Unemployment at all levels is not just a social ill it is an economic disaster so putting people on the economic scrap heap is not a price worth paying as we found out during the Thatcher years says GMB
170,582 posts are under threat at 318 local authorities in England, Wales and Scotland the latest round up by GMB public services union shows. When jobs under threat at local NHS bodies and other public bodies including, universities, the MOD and the Environment Agency (EA) as a result of the spending cuts are added to the numbers at the councils a total of 226,472 public sector jobs are under threat. The full list of councils and authorities and of NHS and other public bodies are set out in 'Notes to Editors' below.
In nearly all of the councils and public bodies a 90 day statutory consultation period is underway on how to deal with these job losses. Most councils have given notice that they plan to delete vacant posts and seek volunteers for early retirements and redundancy.

This table below summaries the total posts under threat across the UK
Local Authorities by Region (Total for 318 Councils)
North East 10,307
North West 30,005
Yorkshire & The Humber 21,433
East Midlands 11,874
West Midlands 22,161
Eastern 11,505
London 17,797
South East 14,547
South West 12,146
Wales 3,055
Scotland 15,752
Total 170,582

Total NHS Bodies 49,682
Total Other Bodies 6,208
Total Public Services jobs under threat 226,472


There are a total of 353 councils in England, 22 in Wales and 32 in Scotland. There are 104 other authorities including national parks, police, fire and waste. For a total of 185 plus authorities GMB has not yet established the number of posts under threat. GMB is waiting for information from 123 smaller shire district councils in England, from 6 larger councils in England (1 London Borough, 2 Met Boroughs and 3 Unitary Authorities), 11 councils in Scotland,12 in Wales and 38 plus other authorities.

First major industrial action against council cuts




The T shirts say it all.



The first major industrial action against council cuts came as UNISON members withdrew their labour at Nottinghamshire County Council today.

UNISON members came from across the county to express their disgust at proposed cuts to libraries, care homes and other essential services. The march, estimated at nearly 1,000 strong, started from The Embankment and crossed the River Trent via the historic Trent Bridge. The rally outside County Hall heard from TUC Regional Secretary Cheryl Pidgeon and UNISONs Head of Local Governmen, Heather Wakefield.

The march was supported by other TUC affiliated unions including the GMB, FBU, PCS Unite and the NUT.

The County Council was due to set its budget for the forthcoming year later in the day.

Care Home protesters excluded from Council debate

Derby Silk Mill march passes the Council House

Care Home and Children's Centre  protesters who wished to listen to the debate at Derby City Council were excluded as council officials blamed health and safety as a reason to limit attendance. Many people had demonstrated their opposition to reductions in service but when it came to hearing the justifications - they were not all allowed in.
To see the report from the ThisisDerbyshire website go to: http://www.thisisderbyshire.co.uk/news/Emotions-run-high-dozens-locked-key-meeting/article-3124145-detail/article.html

Midlands local authorities to lose three quarters of a billion pounds over two years

Figures announced by the government yesterday (Monday) indicate that local authorities across the midlands will lose slightly over three quarters of a billion pounds over the next two years.
Amongst the hardest hit will be Bolsover and Chesterfield councils with whopping reductions of over 20% and 16% respectively. Next comes Ashfield with over 12% sliced off its' budget.
In the west midlands Birmingham City Council, Stoke on Trent and Wyre Forest all post cuts in budget in excess of 8%.
Midlands TUC Regional Secretary Cheryl Pidgeon said, "These cuts will de devastating for communities which rely on local services. It is just not good enough for the government to say services can be better for less or delivered by local people. They already are delivered by local people who dedicate their working lives to do just that. These cuts are an insult to communities and local authority workers. The government should hang its' head in shame at the devastation they are unleashing today"

Job loss announcements

Cheryl Pidgeon at the recent
rally against public sector cuts.

Public sector job losses are now being reported on a regular basis with the most recent announcements from Stoke on Trent and Warwickshire.
The GMB in Stoke on Trent have issued a press release saying they are currently dealing with notice of redundancy for 713 jobs which will be cut before the end of April 2011. They fear that the total job losses in Stoke will total between 2500 and 3000 over the next four years as the council seeks cuts of £100 million.
In Warwickshire, the GMB report that 1855 jobs will be lost as the County Council has to deal with cuts of 26% over the next three years.
TUC Midlands Regional Secretary Cheryl Pidgeon said, "We are now seeing the detail of cuts which emanate from the governments Comprehensive Spending Review. If you are elderly, disabled or have a learning disability, you are at the head of the queue to suffer these cuts. You don't escape by being young either, as youth services are slashed or closed completely, or early years services disappear. Libraries are threatened, children's centres, and the Connexions services, all with the axe hanging over them." Ms Pidgeon continued, "and it is not just the staff who lose their jobs that we are concerned with, it is also the recipient's of those services who we are worried about. These cuts will not be fair as some in government claim -particularly as those who will suffer are certainly not the people who have caused our recent economic problems."

Leicester to lose central library

Leicester is to lose its' central libraries with the loss of 14 equivalent full time jobs. See the full story at: http://www.thisisleicestershire.co.uk/news/Stacks-potential-closure-overdue/article-2327156-detail/article.html
The Belvoir Street libray is to merge with the Reference Library on Bishop Street saving £228,000.

Corby council jobs risk

Corby Chief Executive Chris Mallender has warned that more jobs may be lost as aresult of budget cuts. See the full story at: http://www.northantset.co.uk/corby/Budget-cuts-risk-to-jobs.6326349.jp
Jobs have already been lost through natural wastage and he warns that this may not be possible in the future.

UCU members vote for strike action at Wolverhampton College

UCU members at Wolverhampton College are to strike next Monday - 21st June - after 91% of their members voted in favour of action short of a strike while just under 70% voted in favour of strike action.

Therefore the strike will be going ahead on 21st June and UCU plans for this day will be to picket all campuses in the morning before all members make their way to a protest at the City Centre Campus (Metro One) at 11.30am. It is anticipted that UCU members will be joined by Unison members from the College and hopefully other Trade Unionists.

At 12.00 / 12.15, all protesters will start to march through Dudley St towards the Wulfrun Hall.
At 12.30, the Rally will commence at the Wulfrun Hall. Speakers to be announced.