This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/scotland/edinburgh_and_east/7256574.stm

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Budget talks spark job loss fear Budget talks spark job loss fear
(about 4 hours later)
Council workers have taken part in a demonstration in Edinburgh in protest at possible job losses ahead of crunch budget talks. More than 100 protesters took part in a demonstration in Edinburgh in protest at possible job losses ahead of the city council's crunch budget talks.
Unison said compulsory redundancies would be unavoidable if the council makes cut backs to redress a £20m budget deficit. Staff union Unison said compulsory redundancies would be unavoidable if the council made cutbacks to redress a £20m budget deficit.
More than 100 protesters waved placards in Parliament Square between 0915 GMT and 1100 GMT.
The council must balance its budget to meet commitments to freeze council tax.The council must balance its budget to meet commitments to freeze council tax.
The decision to freeze band D rates at £1,169 was later confirmed at the council's annual budget meeting.
Unison said cuts would hit the under-fives, the elderly, disabled and communities across the city.Unison said cuts would hit the under-fives, the elderly, disabled and communities across the city.
Front-line servicesFront-line services
The council, which holds its annual budget meeting on Thursday, plans to cut back on full-day early years places, care at home restricted to "critical" hospital discharge cases only and community projects. The council plans to cut back on full-day early years places, care at home restricted to "critical" hospital discharge cases only and community projects.
Agnes Petkevicius, Unison's Edinburgh branch secretary, said: "Councillors really cannot get away with the pretence that front-line services will not be affected.Agnes Petkevicius, Unison's Edinburgh branch secretary, said: "Councillors really cannot get away with the pretence that front-line services will not be affected.
"It is clear that jobs will be lost in the council and in the voluntary sector, jobs that deliver front-line services."It is clear that jobs will be lost in the council and in the voluntary sector, jobs that deliver front-line services.
"In addition, it is hard to see how compulsory redundancies will be avoided both in the council and in some of the cash-starved voluntary sector providers if cuts of this magnitude go ahead.""In addition, it is hard to see how compulsory redundancies will be avoided both in the council and in some of the cash-starved voluntary sector providers if cuts of this magnitude go ahead."
However council leader Jenny Dawe claimed its budget was "balanced, responsible and sustainable".
"Despite tight constraints, this is a milestone budget for Edinburgh, created in the best interests of Edinburgh residents," she said.
"We are looking after our city and the people who live in it, especially some of our more vulnerable citizens."