WATCH: "Aye, right!" says council boss blamed over 31 jobless in Easter Ross

"I'm leaving for holiday on Saturday...I'd be happy to speak to them after Christmas" - CLLR MARGARET DAVIDSON

Highland Council's Leader is taking flack on social media after controversial comments she made about jobless workers in Easter Ross.

Margaret Davidson's administration was already under fire for switching a waste recycling council contract from a local company in Evanton, with a French firm.

That caused 31-staff at Munro's to be laid off because multi-national *SUEZ claimed it does not legally have to take on the affected workers.

When MFR News was still recording during an interview with the councillor, the local authority Leader pointed the finger at the jobless group's former employer, accusing it of not planning for the end of their contract.

In a live mic gaffe Margaret said: "Munro's have just turned round and gone 'it's all the council's fault' - aye, right!"

But Munro's was given just two hours' notice that the contract was not going to be renewed via email at 22:04 on a Friday evening last month, and workers turning up on Monday morning were left "despondent" according to Munro's site manager Deborah Lambourne.

She told MFR News: "They've been treated badly. It's not fair. No time is a good time for this sort of thing to happen, but right on top of Christmas as well, it's shocking."

"They need to understand we haven't got a magic wand" - HIGHLAND COUNCIL LEADER CLLR DAVIDSON

In a video appeal to Highland Council, speaking directly to its Leader, 20-year-old Gracjan Dabrowski from Balintore, who's been without work for a month, said: "Margaret Davidson I would want you to provide jobs for 31-people who were left with no job unfairly. If she's in-charge I think she should meet up with all of us and tell us all what's happening."

She responded: "I'm afraid I'm leaving for holiday on Saturday, so it won't be until after Christmas. I'd be happy to speak to them after Christmas.

"They need to understand we haven't got a magic wand.

"What I was hoping would happen is that, most of those men, if not all of them, would be TUPED over into SUEZ.

"Munro's could have helped organise that. Munro's had plenty of time to know when this contract was coming to an end.

"Munro's had every opportunity to plan for what was happening, so it doesn't all sit with the Highland Council."

Highland MSP John Finnie took to Twitter and accused Highland Council's political boss of making inappropriate statements.

He claimed: "The comments were crass. They were insensitive."

MFR News understands that legal discussions are ongoing to get the unemployed workers compensation, but even with it, it's looking like a tough Christmas ahead for them and their families.

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

HIGHLAND COUNCIL STATEMENT:

The Council has awarded the new contract, in line with due Procurement procedures and best value principles, to an established contractor from 18 November 2017. The new contractor can process this material at a lower price and therefore provide better value for the public in Highland.

The Council will work with partners to mitigate any impacts on the employees of WMCH including ensuring that TUPE principles are applied and that advice and support are in place for those seeking alternative employment.

*MFR News is still waiting to hear from SUEZ which was contacted via their media queries channel on Tuesday, December 12th.

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