A furious row has broken out over plans by Aberdeen City Council to increase the salaries of its top management.
The number of head of services posts is to be reduced, but the new positions will attract significantly higher pay.
Union leaders have hit out at the move branding it "disgraceful".
The announcement comes just a days after Glencraft - a workshop for the blind and disabled – was closed after the authority withdrew funding, leaving 50 workers unemployed.
There were angry scenes at a council meeting on Wednesday as the local authority revealed they are to reduce the number of heads of service from 25 to 16 but with the new salaries being increased from £68,000 to £75,000.
Tommy Campbell of Unite Union stormed out of the public gallery. They accused chief executive Sue Bruce of not revealing the strength of opposition to the plans in her report to councillors.
Mr Campbell said: “We’ve been very critical of the report, particularly of the increase in salaries that are proposed. We believe at a time when there is financial constraint in the council that there should be prudence here.
“Council staff have accepted increased workloads and more responsibilities under the basis that the council doesn’t have any funds
But the council said the restructuring will still save them more than £3milllion over five years and pointed out that these new positions combine several roles.
Thirty two councillors voted for the new salary bands. Nine labour councillors refused to back the move.
Aberdeen City Council is consulting with its staff over up to 600 possible job losses across its workforce.
