The Edinburgh Council branch of trade union Unison has voted by an overwhelming majority to take formal action against their employers over a lack of resources available for children's services.
Members of Unison voted by 98 per cent in favour of pursuing a formal grievance against the council unless urgent action is taken. They plan to formulate the terms of the grievance and submit them to the council this week.
Lynn Williams, Unison's branch convenor of social work shop stewards, said it was not a dispute with the social work department itself but a dispute with the council and the Scottish executive over resources.
Director of social work at Edinburgh Les McEwan acknowledged that the council had increased the children and families' budget by £2.8 million this year. But he added that there had been a 20 per cent rise in the number of children in need of care since 1995.
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