Council staff may strike over job axe

THOUSANDS of Kirklees Council workers could strike before Christmas after talks broke down between unions and council chiefs.

Kirklees Unison has warned that up to 8,500 council staff could walk out for five days next month in a row over ‘savage’ cuts to public services.

The union balloted its members in August, but a five-day strike was averted on September 1 so ‘meaningful negotiations’ with the council could take place.

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However, the union is arguing that the authority broke promises over compulsory redundancies and front line services.

Kirklees Unison branch secretary Paul Holmes said: “The ballot is not going to be suspended again, members are very angry about this.

“The council has two options - either bring negotiations to a satisfactory conclusion for our members or we will initiate the ballot. Members cannot expect to have the ‘Sword of Damocles’ continually hanging over them.

“The savagery must end. Our members are not unreasonable, but the current situation is.”

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Mr Holmes revealed that the council originally promised to limit the compulsory redundancies to 150, but has now raised that figure to 698.

Of those jobs, 77 would be manual roles, 146 in clerical or administrative posts, 127 from professional jobs and 348 technical posts like craftsmen and electricians.

Kirklees Council has committed to saving around £82m over the next four years through efficiencies and job losses.

Tory leader Coun Robert Light has slammed the decision, saying: “It would be regrettable if they voted for strike action and I don’t think it will help their cause.

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“The biggest effect this might have would be to harden people’s views against the public sector. When everyone is feeling the pinch, they will see public sector workers striking and it could do down very badly with them.”

A spokesman for Kirklees Council said: “It was Unison who requested we go to conciliation in a bid to resolve issues around terms of redundancy for employees.

“We agreed as we are happy to try any avenue that brings the dispute to a close, which is affordable and fair to employees, to council tax payers and to the people who rely on our services.

“To move to a strike ballot while an agreed process is still ongoing is confusing at best, but at worst it is confrontational.

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“We have issued a notice which shows the number of staff potentially affected, but our position remains unchanged. We will do everything we can to minimise compulsory redundancies.”

A strike is unlikely to go ahead before the middle of December.

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