On the announcement that Surrey County Council are looking to cut nearly 650 full time equivilant jobs, Chris Leary, Communications Officer for Surrey County UNISON, the biggest union for SCC staff, said;
“Surrey County Council definitely did not tell us of these job cuts. In fact, at a meeting with HR to talk about current job losses and potential redundancies they clearly gave the message that they were looking at 2-300.
“When the public realise what this means in reality – when their parents and grandparents lose the services they rely on such as mobile libraries – when vulnerable adults cannot get support because there are not enough qualified staff – when young people turn to crime and deliquency because their youth services have gone – the people of Surrey will not just stand idly by and let the politicians decimate services.
“We will defend our members jobs and support them in whatever action they choose to take – including lawful industrial action.
“Hundreds of local people got involved in the successful campaigns to save Shortwood Infant School in Staines and Brooklands FE College in Ashford last year – before the big cuts were announced by the new ConDem government. UNISON were proud to be part of those campaigns and we will support anyone fighting to save a vital local service. Our members are mobilising for the TUC’s demonstration on March 26th already. We will also be lobbying the Council from 8.30am on Febuary 8th. These cuts are not inevitable.”
