News / Politics
Calls for council job cuts reversal
The Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition (TUSC) has called on Marvin Rees to reverse the decision to cut up to 1,000 jobs from Bristol City Council.
The mayor announced on Monday that nearly a sixth of the workforce was under threat, after it emerged the council’s finances were far more stretched than previously thought.
The council has to save £60m by April 2020, with a target of £29m by the end of this financial year.
TUSC former mayoral candidate Tom Baldwin said: “This will be seen as a betrayal by many of the people who voted for Marvin Rees hoping for a change from the cuts made by George Ferguson.
“We call for a no-cuts budget that is based on what Bristol needs and the building of a mass campaign to push back the Tory government and reverse the swingeing cuts they’ve made.
“Marvin Rees must now adopt that approach if he doesn’t want to be known as the mayor that butchered Bristol’s services. The need to challenge austerity in deeds, not just words, is greater than ever.”
Bristol City Council – which has around 6,970 employees – intends to launch a scheme for staff to apply for voluntary severance later this week.
Read more: City Council to cut 1,000 jobs
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