GMB Scotland Press Release
For immediate distribution: Thursday 10 October 2019
GMB Scotland Calls for Political Intervention to Save Dundee Swimming
GMB Scotland has written an open letter to all politicians representing Dundee regarding the imposed reduction in operational hours at various community pools in the city and to engage local politicians in the wider discussion around cuts to the city’s services.
GMB has repeatedly requested access to a completed Equality Impact Assessment (EIA) for the proposed changes to the ‘Learn to Swim’ programme, but Leisure and Culture Dundee (LACD) has failed to provide this information. Instead, LACD continue to claim that they will increase their provision from 17 to 153 sessions without substantiation.
The trade union, which represents local swimming instructors, has called for direct investment in the workforce to secure the ongoing delivery of top quality swimming lessons at an affordable price for all of the children and adults of Dundee – not just those who can afford to pay up for private lessons.
The swimming lessons help to generate crucial income for cash-strapped ALEO Leisure and Culture Dundee.
GMB Scotland Organiser Helen Meldrum said: “We want to see investment in swimming in Dundee, not just because it can deliver crucial revenue at a time of cuts to services, but because we know the value Dundonians place on ensuring their children have access to swimming lessons.
“That is evident from the huge waiting lists but time and again scheduled lessons have to be cancelled due to staff shortages. That means families who can’t afford to access private lessons have to go without.
“That’s not acceptable and politicians representing the city have a choice to make. They can intervene on behalf of our members and support our call for investment in swimming lessons for Dundee, or they can side with mismanagement and watch the service go under.
“Without urgent intervention from Dundee’s political representatives, the union will have no alternative but to seek a mandate for industrial action across the service, as management have shown they are unwilling to engage constructively with the workforce.”
ENDS
Contact: GMB Scotland Senior Organiser Drew Duffy on 07912 560806.
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Posted: 11th October 2019