Union vows to fight job cuts at council
UNION leaders are threatening industrial action to fend off possible compulsory redundancies at a cash-strapped council.
Senior officers from public sector trade union Unison have warned they will fight back if Stoke-on-Trent City Council tries to axe more jobs to cut costs.
The threat comes just two months after the authority used voluntary redundancies to get rid of 123 staff as it scrambled to reduce a forecast £10 million overspend.
It coincides with the launch of a "root and branch" review of council services in the city this year in a bid to find further savings.
Earlier this month, the council refused to rule out up to 1,000 job losses over the next five years to cope with cuts in Government funding.
But Unison's Stoke-on-Trent branch secretary, Colin Walton, below, has vowed to fight any further cuts.
Commenting on the threat of compulsory redundancies in this month's annual branch report, he said: "Should such an eventuality arise, our policy is to resist that and to call on (members) to support any action we may agree in support of those under threat. To concentrate minds, we may have to consider working to rule."
He also said that the recent job losses were putting added strain on workers, who were trying to keep over-stretched services running.
Union vice-chairman Janet Richmond-Slack appealed to members to "remain united to protect our members facing cuts in working conditions and the threat of compulsory redundancies".
She also warned members of the need to consider "taking whatever action may be necessary to defend our public services".
Convenor Barry Russell urged the council to act to prevent staff morale collapsing.
He said: "Reorganisations, department changes, budget cuts and threats of externalisation have taken their toll on the morale of staff.
"Cutbacks on staffing levels have seen staff face severe increases in workload and this has increased the levels of stress."
He added: "We are very disappointed in the lack of consultation over proposed changes in working practices. This is not the way to conduct good industrial relations."
Branch chairman Mark O'Donnell also accused the council of failing to consult staff on restructuring plans.
Councillor Kieran Clarke, cabinet member for resources, confirmed the union's fears and said that the authority may have to resort to compulsory redundancies over the next 12 months. He said: "Unfortunately, I think compulsory redundancies are quite likely as we proceed with the root and branch review of services.
"If we do reduce provision then it may have to come to that, because we wouldn't be able to use voluntary redundancies to make specific reductions. If you do then you often don't get the right people coming forward and that could affect the wrong services."
6 Comments
by former unison steward newcatle, Newcastle
Friday, March 12 2010, 7:07PM
“Could`nt agree more with my good colleague from Trentham, in fact Its far worse and I have seeen some of the most brilliant ducking and diving ever performed to achieve the best for members who were senior managers, and as for gagging clauses? extra cash fluttered in, but eh ho we cant talk about that...................”
by Former Unison member, Trentham
Thursday, March 11 2010, 5:54PM
“In my experience, the UNISON branch of North Staffs have never fought for their members rights.
Maintaining a friendly relationship with the management of SoT City Council has been the convenors priority, until now it seems?”
by Denise, UK
Thursday, March 11 2010, 2:23PM
“It's time that the chaff were rooted out, but go through al levels of employment within SOT council, we pay through the nose for everything SOT council are involved in, maybe we'll get no parking charges and no increase in council tax then just think of the savings to be made.”
by Andy, Hanley
Thursday, March 11 2010, 12:38PM
“I don't see a fundamental difference between public sector or private sector workers. we are all workers after all.
The three main political parties are competing for who can carry out the most cuts. They want to make working class and middle class people pay for the economic crisis created by big business and the capitalists' system.
All workers need to stick together to fight to defend our jobs, pay, conditions and pensions.
Up £120 billion leaves the shores of Britain every year because big business pays NO or little corporation tax. Bankers have already paid themselves £40 billion in bonuses this year.
These are the people who should be paying for the crisis because its THEIR system thats created it.
If workers have to fight to save their jobs, pay, conditions, pensions etc they'll get my vote everytime.”
by stokiemart, Stoke
Thursday, March 11 2010, 11:33AM
“David, I think you should realise that there is a big difference in form and function between public services and private industry. One of the main functions of trade unions is to defend the rights of their members. Whilst many of their members are some of the lowest paid people in the country they provide some of the most essential services to the public. Many of these people will be made redundant in the coming years and the knock on effect of this will be felt by us all. Are you suggesting that such people should not have this right of representation? Maybe those acolytes of the private sector should reflect on the fact that it was the greed of private companies (banks) that was the root cause of this current crisis of capitalism before holding them up as paragons of efficiency and economic good practice.”
by David, Hanley
Thursday, March 11 2010, 10:59AM
“It looks likely that there may be problems over the next few years with the public sector unions. Both the unions and the employees should realise that their employer is bankrupt and if it were a private company
it would be trading illegally.”