Shropshire Council chiefs today said there would be ‘no disruption’ to services as thousands of staff returned to work following a pay cut and new terms.

It came as union leaders said they were still receiving solicitors’ advice to establish whether the changes imposed on staff at Shropshire Council were legal. Workers returned to work at the Shirehall this morning under new conditions.

These include changes to sick pay, mileage allowances and a pay cut of 2.7 per cent.

Council leader Keith Barrow today said: “I can assure people that there will be no disruption to services and the public will notice no difference to the high level of commitment they are used to from their council workers.”

All three recognised trade unions, Unison, GMB and Unite, and the council are committed to negotiations to try to offset the second phase of the pay cut of 2.7 per cent, due to come into effect next year.

However, despite lifting the threat of more strike action, Unison officials today said they were still unsure as to whether the process of dismissal and re-engagement was legal.

Alan James, branch secretary of Shropshire Unison, said: “The authority says it is legal and we have to take their word on that. We would be foolish not to check it out with our own solicitors which is what we are doing.”

The council says the changes are a ‘legal process’, commonly known as dismissal and re-engagement.

Over the past few months, staff have been given the option of voluntarily accepting change to their terms and conditions, or moving to the new terms and conditions by technically being dismissed and re-employed on a new contract.

The outcome of the process is that all staff affected by these changes will be employed under the new terms and conditions from today.

Councillor Barrow said: “I know this has been an extremely difficult time for our staff and I hope we can now put this behind us and move forward.

“I think the people of Shropshire do appreciate the dedicated workforce we have here.”

By Russell Roberts