Leisure jobs under threat

by Philippa Gerrard

Leisure staff today are facing the loss of their jobs amid a pay shake-up.

Employees of Sport Aberdeen have until next Friday to sign up to new terms and conditions.

Employees at Sport Aberdeen's Beach Leisure Centre have a week to agree teams. (Image by Hope Webb and Jeni Fraser)

The organisation said more than one in eight staff had already accepted the deal following a consultation.

Chief executive Alistair Robertson sent a letter to workers on March 18 giving them 3 months formal notice to agree to the new contract.

Today union bosses blasted the organisation which runs sports and leisure venues for the council.

Tommy Campbell of Unite said: "We'll be asking Aberdeen City Council to intervene as this threat to dismiss is totally outwith what we would expect from the public sector.

"They should treat staff with dignity and respect."

Sport Aberdeen said it must modernise to protect 300 jobs as well as a funding cut of £500,000 in 2013/14.

They have defended the contract as a good deal for staff.

Today an employee, who didn't want to be named, said she would be accepting the deal "under duress".

She said she felt "absolutely betrayed" after being told her last day of work could be June 15.

Mr Robertson said: "We truly regret having to make the changes, but we simply have no choice in order to protect the services we deliver and the jobs for everyone."