They seem to be “slicing the salami” thinner and thinner in Thurrock at the moment and cuts to local services are hitting us all. No Thurrock in Bloom this year and now bus and library services are under threat. The messages I’m getting tell me people aren’t happy!
My colleague Maureen was one of those who spoke at full council last week and was assured by the council leader that no libraries will be closed and new one is planned to open in Purfleet. It is encouraging to hear that local centres of learning and enquiry will be maintained but this is by no means the end of the story.
The drive to cut costs and possible new working practices across most of our local boroughs may mean that many hard-working individuals will lose their jobs in favour of volunteers. As a large contributor to the voluntary sector, the Church is always pleased to see local people offering their time and talent for free but we are far from happy that it may mean somebody losing their employment.
Unpaid work and voluntary labour may well be the future for “austerity UK” but we could find ourselves living in a society that puts more and more pressure on the retired and taking advantage of those who offer themselves. In the meantime paid jobs will be more difficult to come by as our local councils try harder to get something for nothing.
The Good Book is very hot on sharing and caring but Paul writes in his letter to Timothy “a worker deserves his pay” so I don’t think God would be happy with a society that promoted job losses as a means of saving money.
Next time you visit your local library or benefit from any of our local services, spare a thought (and perhaps a prayer!) for those whose jobs are under threat.
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