U.K.
The GMB general workers’ union has looked at official statistics for employment in local government in England and Wales. Between the first quarter of 2010 and the third quarter of 2011, 210470 jobs were cut by 375 councils and women accounted for 68% of those affected. In 20 municipalities women accounted for all of those lost jobs.
Read more at > GMB (EN)
The JHL public sector union reports that temporary lay-offs are on the increase, with employees affected in some 20 municipalities and new plans for similar measures are reported every week. Municipalities are also trying to save money by attempting to remove the holiday bonus pay for holidays, offering unpaid holidays instead and privatising services. The union warns that those hit hardest are those with the lowest income, the majority of whom are women and so this is also a question of equality. Read more at > JHL (EN)
A public opinion poll commissioned by the Pardia state sector union shows a large majority (85%) opposed to job cuts because of the impact on quality of services. The survey also found that 58% of people thought that the quality of some public services had suffered as a result of job cuts in the past. The union is arguing against further cuts in jobs and 5,000 still the target under the state productivity scheme. Read more at > Pardia (EN)
The FSS-CCOO health service confederation has provided research showing that over 50000 jobs have been cut from public health services over the past two years. Between the first quarter of 2011 and the same period of 2013, 52,800 jobs were cut, 41,600 of which were temporary, with the vast majority going in 2012. The union says that it is clear that services are at risk as so many fewer workers are having to respond to increased demand from an aging population. Read more at > FSS-CCOO (ES)
