MEMBERS of TUSC – the Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition – are planning a demonstration outside Warrington Town Hall on Monday in protest at what they describe as a “pernicious attack” on the council’s youth service.
TUSC members, led by former Labour councillor Kevin Bennett (pictured) , will be lobbying councillors arriving to attend a special meeting of the borough council to consider a review of polling districts and polling places.
Cllr Bennett said they would be supporting youth and community members who are members of Unite the Union.
He said: “The youth service is already struggling. We need more funding for it – not less.
“My own ward, Fairfield and Howley, is crying out for a service like this, but unfortunately we don’t have a youth worker presence anymore.
“”Warrington Borough Council is using ‘dismiss and re-engage’ to attack our youth services.
“ I believe the council are behaving like rogue employers by trying to impose new contracts onto our youth workers.
“While £0.85m is being drawn from reserves to balance the budget, why is Corporate Financing increasing its budget, when the youth service is facing cuts!
“A mere £80,000 would save the youth service in its present form.
“Don’t forget that this Labour administration was willing to give £3 million to a private company to open a Youth Zone, but is now cutting the youth service funding, it doesn’t make sense.”
Cllr Bennett said a spokesman for Unite had told him the council was threatening to impose changes to their terms and conditions using a “dismiss and re-engage” approach. This would result in poorer outcomes for the most vulnerable young people and the council as a whole.
The youth workers had endured a four-year pay freeze and then been offered a mere one per cent rise and at the same time there had been a restructure that resulted in 50 per cent staff but no readjustment of targets.
Cllr Bennett said he hoped councillors would oppose moves which amounted to an attack on young people.
Protest at “pernicious attack” on youth service
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What a disgrace the council should be ashamed