A UNION has blasted bosses of the leisure company which runs Clydebank’s public sports facilities after reports they have decided to axe jobs.
West Dunbartonshire Leisure Trust (WDLT), described as an “arms-length” function of the council, has outlined details of a restructure that will result in jobs being cut at the sports development team and the active schools’ group.
Unison – which has been fighting these proposals since they were revealed in April last year – slammed the decision, claiming the planned cuts “will not work”.
Leisure bosses said current vacancies should allow cuts from departments to be moved to new posts.
A source from the union told the Post the five job losses will be one manager post, two sports development co-ordinator roles, one football development assistant job, and one active schools co-ordinator.
In a public statement posted on Facebook, Unison said: “Our members advise us that this new delivery model will not work.
“Large-scale public events which bring a great deal of prestige and recognition to our area are now in serious jeopardy, staff left behind won’t have the time or the resource.
“Our members also tell us that the organisation will struggle to deliver on its charitable aims as families in need will not have the same access to sport.
“Our members are the experts in their respective roles, none of whom have been involved in the team put together by management to access the potential impact under equalities.
“As the team put together does not have adequate depth and breadth of knowledge, as the experts in the building were not involved, there are major concerns with the equalities impact assessment.
“In advance of the meeting UNISON called for the status quo to remain, for all staff to stay put in their positions… this would have allowed for the employer to conduct a proper consultation process including a detailed examination of equalities impact under any future proposal.
“This call to action on WDLT was rebuffed.”
The decision is understood to have been the result of a board meeting held by the directors of WDLT on Thursday, January 19.
In the lead-up to May’s local council elections, the issue of potential job losses within the leisure trust was raised at a hustings meeting, with Labour councillor Martin Rooney saying at the time: “I would look to reverse it [the restructure].
“I think sports are vital to local people. The next council should be bringing forward a motion to investigate it. I would definitely be happy to revisit that.”
However, Unison insisted the decision to now cut this service’s staffing levels will have a detrimental impact on the local community.
They added: “Joint Trade union members in West Dunbartonshire Leisure Trust go far over and above their remits when delivering vital public services to our communities – services that our members advise will deteriorate significantly due to these cuts.”
Speaking to the Post, a Unison said: “We will take stock to let the WestDunbartonshire branch figure out our next move.”
A council spokesperson said: “The Board of Directors has approved a revised delivery model which delivers a saving from a restructure of the management of Sports Development and Active Schools teams while maintaining frontline service delivery.
“The restructure proposes a reduction of up to 4.6FTE total across both teams however, with six FTE vacancies at these levels, it is anticipated that all current employees will either be matched to posts or have opportunities for redeployment.”
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