Cornwall Council has, this week, announced it needs to save £18million against its current wage bill by March 2022.
The council has commenced work on plans to reduce the workforce but, at this stage, are unable to commit to what the budget reduction looks like in terms of staff numbers.
UNISON South West regional organiser Emily Gallagher said:
“There are incredibly tough months ahead for council workers, who are on the forefront of delivering vital public services for the communities of Cornwall.
“We are grateful that the council has shared it’s early plans with us, understandably this has caused stress and anxiety among staff whose futures are now uncertain. UNISON’s priority will be to focus on supporting staff over the coming months and mitigate redundancies.
“UNISON has a long-standing campaign around local government funding, and we’re calling on the chancellor to address the huge deficits that councils across the country face when he unveils the Autumn Budget next Wednesday.
“Without additional funding, councils like Cornwall will be forced to make increasingly difficult decisions to balance the books. Public services will pay the ultimate price and the public will lose vital resources and support in their communities.”
