Council workers in Caerphilly will hold a series of demonstrations against multi-million-pound cost-cutting plans by the local authority, says UNISON today (Thursday).
The protests will take place outside Caerphilly County Borough Council’s headquarters on Tuesday and Wednesday (24 and 25 September).
The action follows a march through Blackwood earlier this month against a proposal to close the Blackwood Miners’ Institute, the Llancaiach Fawr living museum and the Meals Direct service. Around 1,000 people took part in the protest.
The council is looking to save £45m over the next two years and will meet next week to discuss the cuts at its Ty Penallta offices in Hengoed.
UNISON Caerphilly branch secretary Lianne Dallimore said: “Hundreds of people took to the streets of Blackwood, which demonstrates the strength of feeling about these closures.
“Many people depend on these local services which council staff work tirelessly to deliver. The council must think again.”
-An online petition against the closure of the Blackwood Miners’ Institute has received more than 6,000 signatures and is available here.
A similar petition against the closure of Llancaiach Fawr is available here.
-UNISON is holding demonstrations outside the council offices at Ty Penallta in Hengoed to coincide with the council’s joint scrutiny committee at 5pm on Tuesday 24 September and a cabinet meeting at 1.30pm on Wednesday 25 September.
-UNISON is also opposing the council’s proposed closure of the Hive restaurant in Ty Penallta. The plan was subject to an online consultation, which ended on Tuesday 10 September.
