A leading trade unionist has called on Dundee City Council leader Ken Guild to resign over comments he made about council job cuts.
Jim Malone, acting chairman of Dundee’s Labour Trade Union Coordinating Group, demanded the councillor’s resignation after comments he made about 45 council cleaning and maintenance staff who are to lose their jobs.
Mr Malone further accused Councillor Guild of failing in his duties and of presiding over an administration which has failed to provide sufficient employment to the city of Dundee.
Insisting Dundee City Council has “failed to function on behalf of the people of Dundee”, the trade unionist said: “I find the latest performance by Councillor Guild as further evidence of his position being untenable.
“As leader of the administration he must surely take responsibility for the current council’s complete and total inability to function on behalf of the people of Dundee.”
Discussing Monday night’s council meeting where the plans were pushed through, Mr Malone added: “He said last night that the Labour group had ‘lost touch with reality’ and has accused opposition councillors of ‘bluster’.
“But he has also said that this latest job cutting plan was ‘well thought’. Which genius planned for another 45 jobs to be axed?
“This is on top of several hundred already shed by the SNP administration. This administration has failed to bring a single Government job to the city.
“The council must prioritise jobs for the city, end the use of blacklisting companies, use local labour, apply for trust status for our port, campaign for renewables and put the city’s needs before their party’s.”
Mr Malone has previously called on Councillor Jimmy Black to consider his position after comments the councillor made about a perceived lack of basic employability skills possessed by Dundonians.
Mr Guild was unavailable for comment but Councillor Willie Sawers, SNP finance spokesman, said: “This ranting attack from the Labour Party simply illustrates why they continue to lose election after election in the city.
“The SNP administration are determined to provide the best possible services to the people of Dundee despite these challenges, and we continue to work hard to achieve this.
“This stands in contrast to the Labour Party who have yet to bring forward a single constructive suggestion to address the city’s financial position.”