Liverpool's drivers face job cut threat
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• Drivers jobs are at risk at Liverpool City Council which is facing a multi-million-pound deficit and must report by 16 November on cost-cutting measures, including a full review of staffing levels.
The refuse collection service goes out to competitive tendering in 1991, but by 16 November the district auditor wants the council's finance committee to say what action it is taking to avoid a deficit in March.
This is likely to include cuts among the 29,000-strong workforce, which includes 6(X) drivers across all council services.
The auditor has told the council that "a deficit will cause a loss, which I must consider in relation to wilful misconduct". He says the council must take "effective action to address underlying problems of overstaffing, low productivity and poor value for money''.
The Transport and General Workers' Union is opposed to job cuts. Mass meetings of council workers took place last week to demonstrate opposition in advance of the proposals. Any attempt to reduce binmen in this city will cause mayhem," says TGWU district officer Jim Goldbourne, who promises that his members will take action if there is even one redundancy.