Fife TUC is calling for an anti-austerity demonstration outside Fife House on the morning of Fife Council’s budget day to protest against planned cuts.
The organisation is taking inspiration from left wing party Syriza’s victory in the Greek election at the weekend on a platform of opposing austerity cuts.
Fife Council will set its budget for 2015-2018 on February 12 as it strives to plug a £77 million budget black hole.
However, a number of controversial proposals are included.
Fife TUC has long been concerned about the continuing cuts to the council’s budget.
It says these have, year-on-year, worsened the employment conditions of council workers and the services provided to Fife.
Ian Waddell, chairman of Fife TUC, said the budget proposals will only bring a deeper reduction in services across all areas, with the prospect of job losses.
He said: “The victory of Syriza in the elections in Greece shows it is possible to say ‘no’ to the ideology of endless austerity, which is having such a serious impact in Fife, as well as Greece. Syriza stands for a programme which includes investment for growth and protection of workers and ordinary people.
“Such measures would benefit the people of Fife too.”
He also welcomed comments by two of Fife’s independent councillors to open up a debate over the budget proposals.
The Courier reported on Tuesday how Cupar councillor Bryan Poole and Benarty/Kelty member Willie Clarke have had enough of the “pretence” of the annual Fife Council budget setting meetings.
Describing the budget meeting as a “bit of a farce”, both councillors are planning to have their own discussions with Fifers next week about how to avoid many of the planned multi-million-pound cuts by putting in place a small increase in the council tax.
“In this context, Fife TUC welcomes the initiative by two of Fife’s Independent councillors to open up a debate over the current budget proposals and the austerity assumptions which lie behind them,” Mr Waddell said.
“Bryan Poole and Willie Clarke are to be praised for taking such a stance and organising meetings with the public to discuss their alternatives.
“The whole reasoning behind austerity and cuts is flawed and this needs to be exposed.”
Fife Council leader David Ross said he has “some sympathy” with the points councillors Poole and Clarke are making.
He said no one signed up to make cuts to vital local services, adding there is a real debate needed on the level of public services people in Fife want and how these should be paid for. Fife TUC is urging members to protest outside Fife House from 9am ahead of the full meeting.
* Councillors Poole and Clarke’s austerity discussion meetings take place on Monday from 6.30pm to 8.30pm at the YMCA, Cupar; Tuesday from 6.30pm to 8.30pm at Benarty Community Centre; Wednesday from 6.30pm to 8.30pm at Kirkland High School, Methil; and Thursday from 6.30pm to 8.30pm at Dalgety Bay Primary School.