Unions protest cuts demanding more Glasgow funding before crucial budget meeting. Council tax hike also looms.
UNISON, Unite, GMB, and EIS members joined before a big council meeting. This meeting sets the 2025/26 budget.
Ricky Bell said there would be few new savings and almost £25 million in cuts already happened. This was agreed last February to happen soon.
Unions want councillors to help and push governments for more city cash.
Chris Sermanni said they cannot handle more cuts now. Glasgow got more funding, which is good news, but this year’s funding does not show the full picture though.
The council planned cuts over three years last year. Those cuts are still happening, except for teacher cuts.
Council tax will likely increase by at least 5%. People can’t afford to spend more money right now.
Scotland’s funding system is not big enough and Glasgow also gets treated unfairly, which doesn’t account for Glasgow’s size or poverty, he explained.
More money came this year, however, the city needs more than quick fixes. Fourteen years wrecked the city.
Staff are swamped and services lack enough people to function properly. He thinks a big funding boost is important, as small fixes just won’t work.
Bell said council tax might rise 6 or 7%. He will use some to fix streets and potholes, while talking with Greens about the budget.
Chris Mitchell talked about street cleaning, stating it has been getting worse for years now. He hopes they will see investment happening.
The council spent £38 million extra by December on agency staff.
Mitchell aims forinvestment to stop this and hopes it gives people full-time jobs, as some have worked there years. This could clean up the city, he said.
The SNP and Greens will stop teacher job cuts, as the EIS was ready to strike about that.
Jane Gow said the strike is only on hold right now, with eyes are on the budget. They are ready to fight cuts to education and more.
Bell confirmed the savings and funding give them a balanced budget.
He noted they might increase the prices of some services and make savings a bit faster. Some savings were moved forward by a year.
The council said the law forces members to set a balanced budget, with parties to show their budget plans at the meeting.