Speaking today after the meeting of the Integrated Joint Board of the Argyll & Bute Health and Social Care Partnership Simon Macfarlane UNISON Regional Organiser said:

“UNISON campaigned against devastating cuts to jobs and services that were considered today. Our open letter to Public Sector Leaders gave a voice to a groundswell of opposition from our members and the community. We are glad to see that the IJB today passed a motion that stepped away from the worst of the cuts that we had highlighted in our letter. Today we saw the immediate threat to Knapdale ward, learning disability day centres and the proposed privatisation of home care lifted. We further saw a step away by the IJB from doing budget business in private. It is still the case the HSCP faces financial challenges and that is a result of needless austerity. Today though we welcome that the threats to our members jobs have been lifted for now. We will continue to speak up for jobs and services and the IJB know that.”