Unison members in Edinburgh called on the Scottish government yesterday to provide emergency funding for local authorities in the wake of the city council’s announcement of 1,200 job cuts over the next four years.

The union’s Edinburgh branch president John Stevenson slammed the “dressing up” of cuts as part of “so-called new ways of working” and called for councillors to stand up for services.

“We have some sympathy for the council because it is cuts from Holyrood and Westminster that are causing the problem,” he said.

“We call again for the Scottish government to make emergency funding available to councils pending the promised review of local government funding.

“After all, Holyrood underspent by £444 million last year while presiding over cut after cut to local services and jobs.”

Mr Stevenson highlighted that 40,000 jobs have been lost at Scottish councils in recent years.

“If that had been any other employer, politicians would have been queuing up to demand action and a rescue plan,” he said.

“The least that councillors can do is stand up for services and not pretend they can go on cutting and cutting.

“They should publish a budget that shows what services could look like if these cuts were not being forced.”

He said the union would continue to hold the council to its “no compulsory redundancies” pledge.

Branch secretary Amanda Kerr said: “At least half of the posts being cut are front-line staff delivering direct services.”

She warned that 2 per cent of front-line posts would be cut along with 500 team-leader and specialist posts.

“These are not managers sitting in offices, these are people directly providing services,” Ms Kerr said.