AS THOUSANDS gather in Glasgow today for the Scottish TUC march against austerity, a report by Unison Scotland has shown the damage being done to public services.

In Austerity Economics Don’t Add Up, the union says that “the public-sector’s lost decade” has seen pay, conditions and morale drop to a record low.

The report shows that 50,000 public service jobs have been lost in Scotland since the economic crash — mainly from local government.

A further 60,000 jobs are forecast to go and 100,000 more children could be pushed into poverty by 2020. 

“A workforce that cares, cures and educates should be celebrated as an achievement, not constantly under attack as a drain on resources,” said Unison Scotland convener Lilian Macer.

But real average earnings are not expected to return to their 2009-10 levels until 2018-19.

“The cleaners, classroom assistants, chefs, nursery workers, nurses, planners, social workers, meat inspectors, care workers and the many other members we represent do vital jobs that support and protect us all,” Ms Macer said.

“They are worth and deserve decent pay and conditions. We all deserve to live in a society that puts people first, where the economy is run for everyone, not just the well off.”

STUC general secretary Grahame Smith called on Scots “irrespective of how you voted in the referendum” to join the rally for Decent Work, Dignified Lives.

“The referendum campaign showed the appetite that exists in Scotland for tackling poverty, for fairer wages and against austerity,” he said.

“As the debate over future powers for the Scottish Parliament continues, we must not lose sight of the practical solutions to combating poverty — fair pay and working conditions, a living wage, decent housing and combating fuel poverty.”

Poverty Alliance director Peter Kelly said that the rally would be “a fitting culmination to Challenge Poverty Week, a week in which we have highlighted that more than 800,000 people in Scotland live in low-income households.” 

He added: “In a rich country like ours this is unnecessary and unacceptable.”

The march begins at 10am at Glasgow Green, finishing at George Square where the main speaker is Owen Jones.