NEWS RELEASE
Unions call for a strategic approach to jobs relocation
Union leaders will call for the Scottish Executive to take a more strategic approach to its relocation policy, arguing that the current system leads to confusion, insecurity and inefficiency, when they appear before the Scottish Parliament's Finance Committee today (Tuesday 24 February).
Members of an STUC delegation will tell Committee members that, while the trade union movement supports, in principle, the Scottish Executive's policy for the relocation of public sector jobs, there is increasing concern about the way that the policy is being implemented in practice.
Commenting before the giving evidence to the Committee, STUC Vice-president and National Officer for Prospect, Anne Douglas said:
"Ministers have identified a number of very broad criteria by which they measure any relocation decision and have made clear to us that decisions are made on a case-by-case basis. While we recognise the potential benefits for local economic development of moving agencies and departments, we are very concerned that there appears to be no central strategy or control over the process. Civil service departments and publicly funded agencies are obliged to consider their location at certain time bound trigger points in isolation from decisions being made elsewhere it's hard to see how this can be relied upon to secure the best outcome.
"What's needed is an objective assessment of economic development requirements across Scotland and a more strategic approach to jobs relocation one which isn't predicated on the notion that redundancies in one area is a reasonable price to pay for new jobs in another".
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Tel: 0141 337 8100 / Fax: 0141 337 8101 www.stuc.org.uk
For further information contact
Rozanne Foyer David Moxham
Note to editors
1) The STUC delegation will be presenting oral evidence to the Finance Committee as part of its inquiry into the Scottish Executive's relocation policy. 2) Appearing before the Committee along with Anne Douglas will be: Eddie Reilly, Scottish Secretary, PCS; Michael Byers, Information Development Officer UNISON; and Rozanne Foyer, Assistant Secretary, STUC