Shropshire Council staff to be balloted on strike action
Wednesday 22nd June 2011, 9:56AM BST.
Thousands of Shropshire Council staff are to be balloted on taking industrial action over the authority’s plans to cut their pay by 5.4 per cent.
But union officials representing about 3,000 workers were hoping today to persuade Shirehall bosses to put the proposals on hold.
The council cabinet last week agreed to cut staff pay by 5.4 per cent over two years.
Staff also face changes to working conditions, including sickness benefits and annual leave entitlement, to save the authority £7 million a year.
The proposals are due to be put to the full council tomorrow for endorsement.
But last night 300 members of Unison, the biggest union at Shirehall, packed an emergency meeting at the Greenhous Meadow stadium in Shrewsbury and voted unanimously for a ballot on industrial action.
Rick Tudor, regional organiser for Shropshire, said: “There was not one dissenting voice. The strength of feeling over the proposals is running very high. We had a clear mandate to ballot for industrial action but we don’t know at this stage what that action might be.”
He said a meeting was being held today with council chief executive Kim Ryley, at which the union would ask for the pay cut proposals to be put on hold to allow consultation.
But Jackie Kelly, the authority’s head of organisational development, said: “There is nothing to report since the council’s cabinet met last Wednesday and put forward a recommendation about staff terms and conditions of employment to the full council.
“This recommendation, along with any new suggestions resulting from the trade unions’ meetings last night and today will be considered by all councillors at the meeting tomorrow.”
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300? out of 3000?
Overwhelming support then.
Get back to work and stop whinging or get down the dole office and stand aside for someone who wants to work.
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Tell you what, why don’t all these numpties that want to strike go and get a job in the private sector and let people who really want to work to their current public sector job for the lower pay rate…
There are lots of people out there that would quite willing do your jobs no matter what the pay is, so put up and shut up at least you have a job to go to
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The room only holds 300. Many staff members could not get in and were turned away. This was only a consultative meeting held at extremely short notice. I suspect when a formal ballot takes place in a couple of weeks, support will be overwhelming. It is not just the proposed changes in terms and conditions but also the arrogant and disrespectful manner in which these proposals were announced. The Council is not acting in good faith and is attempting to hold staff to ransom. The Council is ignoring employment law and are not respecting employees statutory rights. At no point has the council negotiated with the unions or staff on these proposals indeed, a completely different set of proposals were being consulted upon, after the union threatened the Council with legal action, only for the Council to change its position.I think you need to get your facts right before commenting Andy.
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very unfortunate that that the council are ignoring employment law, but wake up, thats what has been happening to the rest of us for years. Un fair dismissal is a £7000 payment max in compensation, most firms know this and will take a hit just to get rid of you. Until the law changes heaverly in the employees favour we have no chance of any fairness.As for 300 turning up, is that all, thats about the same amount of council officials inspecting the recent hole at meole brace!!
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Hey Andy
what a well thought out comment – I can tell you have really researched the subject matter. I think you should keep quiet before you say something intellegent, not much chance of that though.
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Alan, at least I can spell “intelligent” comrade.
Go back to school…
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And are you all hoping for pay rises in line with your illustrious leader?
Over 10% I hear… But I dont mind that she can have as much as she wants… after all it is you runion dues she is thieving, sorry “drawing” from,
On the other hand your wages the tax payer pays and we have had enough.
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What are we talking about with regards sick pay? stopping 6 months full 6 months half pay? bet it will cut the sickness rate down ie duvet days.
what about these two bank holiday Tuesdays do they still have them? add them to the persons holiday entitlement no need to be closed on these two Tuesdays a year.
Pay cut how much is that? 5% well most people in self employment and the privaet sector have had more than that thrust upon them in the current climate.
The hours thing they keep talking about whats wrong with that? imposed on me years ago unison advice to me sign the contract or take your chances by not signing it that’s when it sunk in what a mug I had been giving them my money for 18 years the rep just got an upgrade so it never touched him.
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Expect the usual one-handed criticism from bedroom commentators.
We’ll all be down the dole office offering to work for less money than the next person if this government gets its way.
Let’s all stand together and fight for every job and defend our services.
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fat lot of good that will do them
theres no money left guys
the cuts must be made and the state must be shrunk to do that, simple fact is that the council is one of the biggest elements of the public sector in the uk so you have to accept some of the brunt of this im afraid
if you dont like it, get another job some where else
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