Local Government staff who are out delivering essential services at this time deserve our support and respect COSLA President Alison Evison, said today (Monday).

Councillor Evison said: “All Local Government staff should always be supported and respected – but it is even more important that they are in these unprecedented and most challenging of times – when they are needed more than ever as they go about delivering for communities.

“Our Local Government workers continue to provide care for the most vulnerable people in our society, maintain public health such as regular cleansing and waste collection; continue to support children and their families either from home or in the Hubs; and support local business.

“These and many other key council workers are vital and doing everything that they can to maintain services to our communities and to keep our residents supported. In addition we should also remember and pay tribute to those Local Government workers working alongside our staff in the NHS and the other blue light services to keep us safe. Many others are working behind the scenes to maintain the systems that keep our local services functioning.”

Johanna Baxter, Head of Local Government UNISON said: "Recent news that incidents of abuse, directed towards local government workers, has increased during this national crises is very worrying. No one deserves to be abused during the course of their work, least of all our hard working local government workers who are continuing to go to their work, providing care for the most vulnerable in our society and keeping our essential services working. UNISON will do everything we can in consultation with COSLA to protect and safeguard these vital workers."

Larry Flanagan, EIS General Secretary added: “The work that is being undertaken in hub schools by teachers, janitors, cleaners, catering staff and others, is critical to supporting NHS workers and reducing the number of deaths caused by COVID 19. Everyone has a part to play in Scotland’s response to this crisis.”