18.02.14
Wolverhampton council to cut 600 more jobs
An additional 600 redundancies are expected at Wolverhampton City Council to deliver £123m savings over the next five years.
Originally the council had calculated the jobs loss at 1,400 to save £98m by 2019. But the figure is closer to 2,000, the authority announced – 20% of its workforce.
Andrew Johnson, cabinet member for resources, said: “We have lost a huge proportion of the main source of our income, which is the grant from the government. That's why we have to make these job cuts.
“The job cuts will be across the council except in some essential services such as children's social work. We are offering voluntary redundancy.”
He added: “Wolverhampton is the 20th most deprived area in England. We have been targeted more than the wealthy areas.
“But we have a duty to the people of Wolverhampton to set a balanced budget and we are determined to do that.”
Karen Leonard, GMB regional organiser, said: "Today's announcement of a jobs cull in Wolverhampton due to the cuts is a devastating blow to GMB members, who now face an uncertain future. Jobs and working hours are under threat.
"Those who survive the jobs cull can expect a pay freeze, equating to a real terms pay cut, and an ever increasing work load. GMB officers and shop stewards will be meeting with the council to discuss these cuts in order to protect the interests of our members."
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