Public sector workers in Scotland have started to "panic" as a result of John Swinney's plan to centralise services, a leading trade union has warned.
The First Minister announced last week the SNP Government intends to slash the number of NHS health boards from 14 to just two, as well as reducing the number of local authorities across the country.
Swinney yesterday refused to put a number on the roles that could be lost as a result - but previously insisted he did not expect to see compulsory redundancies.
Unite's warning
But Dougie Maguire, deputy Scottish secretary at Unite, said such a claim was not credible following previous examples of SNP-imposed centralisation.
He pointed to the creation of Police Scotland and the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service in 2013 which saw jobs cut and morale plummet among remaining staff.
And the Unite chief warned the First Minister that unions would not tolerate redundancies.
He told the Record: "We're not going to accept any attempts to cut jobs for our members. It's completely and utterly unacceptable.
"We're not opposed to reform, as we recognise reform is needed. But we are opposed to a Government hell-bent on pushing ahead with further centralisation - because in our experience it leads to cuts and closures and poorer service over all."
Workers already looking for other jobs
Maguire said Swinney's announcement, while vague on details, had already led to huge uncertainty for public sector staff.
He added: "We see this regularly. It doesn't matter the employer, when you tell someone there's going to be a change or cuts, they start to panic.
"I can guarantee you, some will already be looking for other jobs."
The evidence is already available in the public domain through the centralisation of police and fire services. If you ask communities if those merges have been a good thing, I believe they would say no. If you asked the workers if it was good for them, they would run over the top of you. It's been a disaster.
"Are they really going to continue this same model of centralisation, while kidding on that it's going to deliver a better service?
"They should admit they have a massive amount to save and the way they are going to do it is by integrating health boards and taking local control out of the picture.
"Ultimately, jobs will be lost on the front line."
Frontline job losses
Maguire rejected the argument that removing dozens of well-paid executive roles would free-up cash to be spent on frontline services.
"If the objective is to fill a blackhole, you're using the money that you're saving to cut costs, not to improve services," he added.
"Police Scotland has lost 1,500 officers since it was centralised, the fire service have lost 1,250 firefighter jobs. That involved cutting back office jobs. But in reality, it also cost frontline jobs."
Swinney said last week his Government would "work very closely" with unions as it plans to slash the public sector.
"We have got to make sure is that we work with the trade unions to undertake a reform programme," the SNP leader said.
"That will mean a reduction in public sector employment and that is part of what we have face up to as we adapt the health service to meet the needs of the population."
