Thirty full-time staff and around 50 part-time employees attended lastweek's demonstration, organised by the Unite union, to highlight plansto cut the council's budget for youth services by up to 360,000.The move could see the loss of schemes for young people between 11 and24, including those aimed at helping teenage parents.
Unite says that the council is also issuing new contracts for youthworkers containing different terms and conditions, working hours andholiday entitlements.
The latest cuts come after the Conservative-led council cut more than300,000 from the budget of the Children and Family EducationServices department in March. This led to the closure of 32 after-schoolclubs and 23 summer play schemes, and the loss of 32 full- time jobs(News, 4 March).
Rachel Maskell, Unite national officer for the community andnot-for-profit sector, said, 'The council has refused to consult andnegotiate on the implementation of these proposals. We urge the councilto open a dialogue with staff and trade union representatives.
'The city council appears to have no conscience as to how these cutswill affect the most vulnerable in Coventry. Council officers are hidingbehind council members' decisions and calling it policy.'
Colin Green, director of children, learning and young people, said, 'Thechanges we are making are to improve services for children and youngpeople in the city by strengthening how we safeguard and protect them.It is very disappointing that anyone should oppose such changes.
'We need to reallocate resources to focus on children in the city mostat risk to reduce the onset of abuse and neglect. We will be doing thisby establishing multi-disciplinary teams of professionals across thecity. We have consulted extensively on the implementation of theseproposals and staffing changes.'
