Proposals from Leeds City Council that could see around 750 jobs cut to help address financial deficits are extremely worrying, UNISON says today (Wednesday).
The local authority says it faces a funding gap of more than £160m to the end of March 2027, with a shortfall of almost £60m for the next financial year.
A formal notice has been issued to workers, informing them of plans to cut up to 750 full-time equivalent posts by the end of the 2024/25 financial year.
UNISON says the council is unable to rule out the possibility of compulsory redundancies.
Leeds City Council is also looking at building closures which could see some vital services moved out of key areas where they’re needed most, says the union.
The range of measures to address the council’s budget challenge will be discussed by the council’s executive board today (Wednesday).
UNISON Yorkshire and Humberside regional organiser Brendan Cafferty said: “Potential job cuts at Leeds City Council are a huge concern. Sadly this reflects the picture in local government across the region, and indeed the whole country.
“Years of cuts from the Conservative government to local authority funding are leaving councils like Leeds trying to find ways to balance the books, but there’s no fat left on the bone to cut.
“These financial troubles faced by Leeds will continue for years to come because of reduced funding from central government, and a lack of information about future funding.
“Cutting jobs will mean services deteriorate and people in Leeds reliant on those services will suffer. They deserve better.”
UNISON Leeds local government branch secretary Martyn Walker said: “The council is currently unable to rule out the possibility of compulsory redundancies, so the union is ready to ballot staff for strike action if that’s what it takes.”
UNISON Leeds local government assistant branch secretary Mick Binks said: “Staff have suffered a real terms pay cut over the past 13 years while hundreds of job cuts have been made. But the workload stays the same, and staff continue to provide services for the city.
“The council has been put in an impossible situation by the government, which has cut back local authority funding, and it’s the people of Leeds who will feel the pain.”
Click here for UNISON analysis of council finances across the Yorkshire and Humberside region
