A LEADING trade union has launched a campaign aiming to highlight the problem of over-worked council staff within West Dunbartonshire.

UNISON says previous rounds of cuts to local authority spending have resulted in more cases of work-related stress – and, with more belt-tightening likely when West Dunbartonshire Council sets its 2019-20 spending plans, the union is now warning that “enough is enough”.

A spokesman said: “Closures of social work services in Alexandria, cuts to our local libraries, [and] constant and continued restructures within various departments mean that vital services to local residents are being cut.

“The employees who are left behind are working flat out to cope with the increased workload and as a result, UNISON are seeing a significant rise in work related stress.”

A spokesperson for WDC said: “It is wrong and misleading to suggest the closure of the social work office in Alexandria has an impact on the service delivery as local appointments are still available to families who need them.

“Also there’s no additional workload for library staff as employees are working hours to suit the business need and not additional hours.

“West Dunbartonshire Council takes the health and wellbeing of our employees very seriously, and it is encouraging to see workplace stress not featuring in the council’s top three reasons for sickness absence.

“In addition, the council continues to invest in a number of initiatives including comprehensive mental health training and access to a free and confidential counselling.”