A decision to slash up to 28 welfare and financial advice jobs will hit the area’s poorest and most vulnerable residents, it’s been warned.
Under proposals approved by West Dunbartonshire Council’s Labour administration in their budget, 28 full-time roles from the welfare rights and money advice services teams could be axed.
This will see some teams at the local authority’s Working4U service cut from 11 to just potentially just three.
Unions have reacted with fury at the decision, saying the figure was revealed at a meeting last week.
The Labour group are being urged to reverse the cuts amid fears it will impact residents who are already struggling with the cost of living crisis.
Working4U is a service which supports West Dunbartonshire residents seeking employment opportunities, provide assistance with benefits and debt issues, help to access learning, gain qualifications and improve digital literacy.
West Dunbartonshire Council (WDC) say it’s too early to accurately confirm the number of reductions to staffing numbers.
It’s feared the move could ramp up demand on West Dunbartonshire’s Citizens Advice Bureau, which has already seen its funding from WDC cut.
Last year, the service supported more than 5000 people locally with financial concerns.
Leven Councillor Jim Bollan, of the Community Party, commented: “Cutting these roles will impact heavily on the poorest and most vulnerable in our communities.
“We are in the midst of a cost of living crisis with food inflation at 16 percent and the cost of gas and electricity almost doubled while the Tory Government cuts help to millions of families.
“We need these vital services to be increased, not savagely cut, which will bring untold misery and deeper poverty to thousands of local families.
“The Citizens Advice Bureau advised us only last week there has been a huge increase in constituents seeking help from them in the past year, with over 13,000 enquiries. Eighty percent of their enquiries were about benefits, debt and utility debts.
“Labour needs to urgently reverse these deep cuts to this vital service to ensure every citizen who needs help, assistance, support and advice can receive it when they need it most.”
Hitting out, Unison convenor for West Dunbartonshire, David Smith, said: “On the council papers for March 1 it says that a 25 percent cut to Working4U equals 25 FTE staff. What members heard in last week’s meeting between members, management and TU’s was that this could equal as much as a 27.98 FTE cut.
“Members want to know why council papers say 25 FTE but now they are being told almost 28 FTE, members want to know why the goalposts have been moved so drastically?
“Our members were devastated to hear that colleagues they will soon be forced to leave behind are highly likely to be in their shoes next year.
“Members were clear that they served our community diligently for decades and that they are being penalised unfairly when all they have done is to create better life opportunities for and with the citizens of West Dunbartonshire.
“It’s a sad day for the workers and for our community.”
David Scott of the GMB added: “GMB as part of joint trade unions (JTU) are in total agreement regarding the slashing of vital services.
“The JTU met with managers and employees. It’s clear that this situation is a complete mess with so many unanswered questions.
“Some teams in W4U are being decimated from having 11 employees to only three.
“Our members are asking why no cuts have been made to senior or chief officers during this process.”
A council spokeswoman said the service is currently consulting with employees.
She added: “W4U service will continue to provide a wide range of support to residents including money advice, employment and community learning and development. In addition, through its cost of living initiatives, the council is providing a range of support and advice to residents including help with utility costs, a school meal hardship fund, free activities for young people and additional funding for community groups and
food banks.”
The Lennox understands that WDC is looking at a range of options to reduce employee numbers, which includes early retirement, voluntary severance and not filling vacant positions.
