Scottish Charity Warns of Mass Layoffs Without Union Concessions

Quarriers, a large Scottish charity serving homeless and disabled people, has warned its 2,000 employees they face dismissal unless they agree to proposed wage and benefit reductions, the British newspaper The Times reports.

Unison, which represents Quarriers workers, said the organization canceled a planned July 10 meeting, then notified the union that all staff members would be let go and rehired under new terms unless they meet the charity’s demands.

Unison’s Stephen Brown said the union “recognizes Quarriers is feeling the financial pinch” and is prepared to negotiate, but he decried the charity’s “gunboat diplomacy” in threatening mass firings.

Quarriers ended the last fiscal year with a nearly $2-million deficit, which it cut to about $820,000 by dipping into reserve funds. “We are looking at potentially a bigger deficit this year and next year unless we can achieve savings and cut costs,” said Phil Robinson, the charity’s chief executive.