Years of central government underfunding, growing demand for services and spikes in inflation and energy costs have cost councils billions. Now services we all rely on are facing catastrophic cuts.
Local authorities keep our communities together and protect the most vulnerable. We’re calling on our leaders to end the cuts and save our services.
Libraries are shutting, waste collections are reducing, and social services are shrinking. More and more essential services that we all rely on every day are crumbling away.
Local services need proper funding to ensure their resilience. Right now, even our most basic services are facing cuts as a result of chronic underfunding.
Staff working in local councils are finding their budgets slashed to the bone; after 14 years of constant cuts, there’s not much left. We face the very real risk of the number of councils declaring effective bankruptcy growing rapidly.
We desperately need to save our services.
North Yorkshire Council has a funding shortfall of over £28 million, City of York Council £10 million, and Leeds City Council £64 million
You can view the full list of councils here.
What can we do?
Local services will disappear without emergency funding now. That’s why we are calling on the government to #SaveOurServices. Send an email to your MP now, asking them to pledge their support.
Read the guide to emailing your MP here
Other ways to get involved
If you’re a UNISON activist, you can download campaign graphics and videos here. Find our comprehensive campaign toolkit here, and our quick guide to help you get started, here.
