ANTI-AUSTERITY campaigners carried a coffin into Bolton Town Hall as they heard how the council is looking to slash £43 million from its budget over the next two years.

Members of Unison, the public services union, wore black and let off black balloons during the cabinet meeting in protest of planned cuts.

The union had raised objections to the budget, which will be voted on at the next full council meeting, particularly the creation of a new company within the authority to manage adult social care.

Matt Kilsby from Bolton Unison said the business would create a ‘two tier’ workforce, as new starters would be offered worse pay and conditions that existing council staff transferred into the business.

He said: “It is effectively outsourcing adult social care.

“They are transferring some of the staff over, but the new company employers will be on lower terms and conditions, then it’s a race to the bottom.

“We don’t think it’s the way to protect the most vulnerable in society to employ carers on low wages, potentially without the same conditions as current employees.”

Mr Kilsby added that the union has not ruled out industrial action in protest of the planned cuts at the council.

He told The Bolton News: “Ultimately we would want to work with the council as far as possible, but clearly there will be areas where we will not be able to reach agreement.

“If our members want to take industrial action to defend services or jobs, we will back them all the way.”