STEWART PATERSON

Political Correspondent

CAMAPIGNERS are calling on the DWP to call off the Jobcentre closures in a public meeting in Glasgow today.

The PCS union, which represents Jobcentre staff is warning the plans are poorly though out and have been devised for the wrong reasons.

Union officials, workers, will be joined by politicians and other organisations who want to see the proposals scrapped.

The Evening Times Hands off Our Jobcentres campaign has highlighted reasons why the closures will have a negative impact on the people Jobcentres are supposed to help.

It has attracted widespread backing from politicians of all parties at Holyrood and Westminster, including Scottish Government ministers,

Anti-poverty groups and award winning film maker Ken Loach, whose I, Daniel Blake has highlighted poverty caused by the welfare system also support the campaign.

The DWP want to close half the city’s Jobcentres but PCS say the closures must be halted and the closures across Scotland and the UK subjected to a rethink.

Glasgow has been hit harder than others as the plan is for a 20% cut in Offices, but the UK proposals will see just one in ten closed while Glasgow will see a 50% cut, with closures affecting some of the poorest areas in the country with higher than average unemployment rates.

Janice Godrich, PCS National president, said: “The DWP needs to stop and think about the impact some of these closures on local communities and how they will undermine the support to members of the public who rely on them to help them get back to work.

“We are opposed to these closures.”

The meeting is today at Adelaide’s in Bath Street. From 11 am to 1 pm.

Other speakers include Chris Stephens Glasgow South West SNP MP.