Hundreds protest at funding cuts to Glasgow mental health charity
200 workers, service users and supportive trade unionists protested against a 40% funding cut to the Glasgow Association for Mental Health (GAMH) charity by the Labour council on 12th November.
The protest called by Unison Scotland, the NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde branch and the Community Voluntary Sector branch was also supported by Glasgow City Unison. There was a lively presence outside the councils health and social care policy development committee with flag waving and chanting of “cuts cost lives”.
Workers made the point to councillors entering that mental health services in Glasgow are already under strain with the recent closure of the Charlie Reid Centre. A 40% cut would effectively close GAMH as a service and mean more workload for other public sector services.
Over £100 million of cuts are proposed by Glasgow City Council over the next four years, with the same amount having being cut over the last four years. Brian Smith Secretary of Glasgow City Unison and a Socialist Party Scotland member spoke at the protest calling for workers and service users to join the Defend Glasgow Services campaign and build a mass fightback against the cuts.
Brian explained that although the Labour council insisted these cuts were needed due to funding cuts, a fighting strategy could be pursued. Glasgow City Council should refuse to implement the cuts and set a no cuts budget based on the needs of the city. Brian also called on those present to support the lobby of the SNP conference on Saturday demanding the Scottish government fight the cuts.
