Thousands of Scots workers face an "uncertain Christmas" after John Swinney admitted they won't get detail on his plans to reform the public sector until the New Year. The First Minister said that responses to a three-month consultation on how to reduce the number of local authorities and quangos across the country will be published before council elections next May.
The SNP leader denied facing a "rammy" with trade unions who have predicted that up to 20,000 roles could be axed as a result of the reforms. Swinney was speaking on the opening day of the SNP conference in Aberdeen where senior Nationalists are attempting to portray an image of a unified party which is on the brink of securing another referendum on independence.
Reform plans and financial pressures
There is deep unease among several MSPs over the speed of the planned reforms - which could see 14 NHS health boards reduced to just two - and lack of detail being offered by the Government. SNP ministers must plug a £5 billion blackhole in Holyrood's finances by 2030 and have repeatedly said the public sector workforce must be reduced as a result.
Asked if workers would know if they still had a job before Christmas, the First Minister said: "I suspect the Government will set out its responses to the issues raised in the consultation period in the New Year."
Swinney's commitment to consensus
Asked if he was now on a collision course with the unions, the First Minister said he wanted to achieve "consensus" on the issue. He added: "I want to make sure public services operate more efficiently and more effectively. So wherever you live in Scotland, you can get access to high quality public services."
He continued: "I've willingly considered that we are going to have to reduce the size of the public sector workforce over a period of time. I want to do that in an agreed and managed fashion, working collectively with our trade union and local authority partners."
Union warnings and criticism
Joe Fagan, Scottish Labour local government spokesman, said: "The SNP's proposals are riddled with unanswered questions and ministers can't explain even the basic purpose of the proposals - what they are for, how much it will cost or even how it will improve public services. Working people and the trade unions absolutely must have a voice in this process, it can't be a backroom stitch up in Holyrood."
Scotland's most senior trade unionist earlier warned the SNP Government's reform agenda could see "reckless" changes to the way public services are delivered - with the potential loss of up to 20,000 public sector jobs. Roz Foyer, STUC general secretary, said: "We do not accept that the only way to reform public services is through job losses, cuts and closures. Investment, proper planning and using the experience of Scotland's public service workers offer a better way forward. The clock is ticking."
