550 workers ask to leave Stoke-on-Trent City Council in voluntary redundancies
MORE than 500 workers want to leave a cash-strapped council after asking about taking voluntary redundancy.
Stoke-on-Trent City Council is looking to cut 180 full-time posts in 2013/14 as part of its latest round of job cuts – and 550 staff have expressed an interest in quitting their jobs at the authority.
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Stoke-on-Trent City Council is looking to cut 180 full-time posts
But only one quarter of these – equivalent to 90 full-time workers – have so far signed redundancy contracts, meaning another 90 redundancies could be compulsory.
The job cuts are part of plans to save £2 million at the council's city renewal department, and will affect services such as highways, ground maintenance, parks, construction and leisure.
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It is the third year running where demand for redundancies has outstripped the amount needed. Councillor Andy Lilley quit the ruling Labour group in January in a dispute over cuts to workers' terms and conditions.
Mr Lilley, who is now an unaffiliated councillor, believes morale among the workforce has hit rock bottom.
He said: "I have a lot of contact with three unions, and I know there is a lot of dissatisfaction among the workforce.
"The current administration is always trying to blame the Government for what's happening, but they need to take responsibility. At the budget council meeting I proposed an alternative plan that would have saved staff, but nobody wanted to listen. The council did, however, push through plans to increase the chief executive's pay by £5,000."
More than 700 workers registered an interest in quitting the council this financial year after the authority announced plans to cut 232 jobs as part of its 2012/13 budget. A further 69 vacant posts were left unfilled. A total of 800 redundancies were made in 2011/12.
Councillors approved £21 million of cuts at last month's full council budget meeting.
Charles Stewart, assistant chief executive, said: "We carefully consider all applications that we receive for voluntary redundancy to ensure that the needs of the taxpayers will continue to be met as posts are deleted. So far, 550 members of staff have requested estimates.
"We are also mindful this is a very difficult time for our employees and we want to avoid compulsory redundancies as much as possible. We make every effort to help and support employees who want to take voluntary redundancy."
22 Comments
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by stokepotter
Sunday, March 17 2013, 7:49PM
“For those who do manage to take VR, they will be surprised to find that Private Sector take a rather dim view of hiring those from the public sector as they are viewed as not being up to the rigours needed to work in the real world. These people will be out of work for a long time potentially so they will have to dip deeply into their golden handshakes to last until they eventually do manage to find another job - or are retiring.”
by IcarusRising
Saturday, March 16 2013, 4:03PM
“roob57 is obviously basing all his/her comments on the general misconceptions that most ignorant people have of council workers...they don't all have cushy jobs, loads of money for pay and no-one watching what they do...like the vast majority of NHS staff they haven't had a pay rise in over four years whilst not earning top salaries, despite every commodity around them rising with inflation. Unfortunately, council workers are an easy target for ignorant people like roob57 to vent their frustrations on...speak to an average council worker and ask them why they want to leave before making incorrect, ill-informed judgements...just for the record I do not work for the council.”
by Noddy_q_who
Saturday, March 16 2013, 10:47AM
“"third year running that demand for VR outstrips the need" well, that speaks volumes - surely the council leaders would want to look at the culture within their organisation to see why so many would rather leave their jobs in the current climate than continue to work for this council. Oh, wait, the leadership team would need to actually CARE to do that!”
by Newcastle_Ram
Saturday, March 16 2013, 8:54AM
“They need the redundancies cos after careful consideration of the!building budget, the new council offices will be a terraced house in middleport. It's all they can actually afford and will only be able to fit Pervez big head in it, so everyone else must go!”
by Biddlelad
Friday, March 15 2013, 7:55PM
“I think there are a few people who will get a shock in the real world!”
by sikaPetaHi
Friday, March 15 2013, 5:50PM
“you can take redundancy money then go back given time...people like pervez are a disease greed greed greed,feathering his own nest is what that person is doing ,april on wards MELT DOWN TIME, david cameron belongs in the hague like other dictators,,he is more worried about giving MIILLIONS to other country's & stripping the poor & low paid down in the uk shame on him he is cancerous & a wicked wicked man this is the beginning of the end......broken britain..........a broken nation...............a broken society a man made disaster zone.......”
by roob57
Friday, March 15 2013, 4:26PM
“Most of those jumping ship will be in for a real culture shock if they go into the private sector.
No final salary pension schemes.
No guaranteed sick pay for the first 3 days of illness if any at all.
No going sick at the drop of a hat without being disciplined.
etc,etc.
Oh and having to actually perform to keep your job and get a pay rise.”
by snaphappy111
Friday, March 15 2013, 4:06PM
“To the 550 workers. The grass is not greener on the other side! It is a hard world out here and jobs are not that easy to come by. It might look good with your redundancy package. BUT it won't last as long as you think............”
by Backdoored
Friday, March 15 2013, 2:52PM
“It was quite obvious when seeing THAT tv documentary a few months back .... how bad things had been handled -especially regarding the old peoples' homes. That 'handling' is now even worse... WITH AS MUCH ARROGANCE AS EVER.... that came out of that film.
Maybe, it won't be demonstrations, or Marches, that will finally oust PERVEZ and his PITIFUL, SHAMEFUL BUNCH OF TOADIES -but maybe it will need a 'Tunisian-type' 'one man' protest.... the one that started the Arab Spring and finally got rid of President Moncef Marzouki....
Who's going to 'carry the can'? THIS IS JUST AN ANALOGY OF COURSE -but it does go to remind us all, wherever we may be on this earth, that once a 'despot' is 'secure' in Office..-surrounded by his CLOSEST ALLIES -who all stand to lose most if he FALLS, that DESPOT WILL TAKE SOME SHIFTING.
He and Larschot are propped up by Greed and self interest. Period.”
by sikaPetaHi
Friday, March 15 2013, 1:52PM
“pervez is asian he will be the LAST out he has the ''race card shield'' he is untouchable.... the legacy of david cameron stripping everybody bar the rich will HAUNT the next tory leaders..WE WILL NEVER FORGET CAMERON & HIS SADISTS....2 more years of HELL then a labour landslide!!!! & before the do gooders defend cameron this is his doing no one else, he has stripped the council down with no spending money...”