Council workers may down tools (From Stroud News and Journal)

Council workers may down tools

STRIKE action is being considered by Stroud District Council staff following a row over pay cuts and job losses in the run up to Christmas.

Workers left their desks on Wednesday and gathered in the front lobby of the authority's headquarters at Ebley Mill, where speeches by union leaders were met with resounding applause.

An informal vote came out in support of industrial action by four to one. Now there are fears that services could be disrupted.

Public sector workers' union Unison - which represents around half the council's 615 employees - is expected to conduct a formal ballot in the New Year.

The row has been sparked by a council drive to improve efficiency. One employee, who asked not to be named, said: "We feel intimidated and terrified at what the future might hold.

"If I accept the changes, I have no idea how I will make ends meet - if I don't, I have been told I will be sacked."

Another worker said: "The council's attitude towards its staff is scandalous.

"How can they justify proposing to reduce the wages of loyal staff while wasting thousands of pounds of council tax payers' money by pursuing someone through the courts for a 40p parking fee?"

Christina Cook, Unison's south west regional officer, said workers were being treated appallingly.

"The council has changed pay and structures without consultation or negotiation, meaning pay cuts of thousands of pounds for many staff," she said.

"Time and time again we have sought to get the council back to the negotiating table and each time it has refused."

The union has not been told how many jobs could be affected.

However, Nigel Riglar, SDC's strategic director, told the SNJ that just five posts would be lost and more staff would receive a pay rise than a pay cut.

In a statement bosses said: "We are committed to modernising and improving our performance.

"This requires us to have a more flexible workforce to respond to the local and national challenges of the 21st Century.

"We believe that we are following the principles of successful pay and restructuring exercises elsewhere and remain happy for Unison to re-engage in talks with us at any time."

Meanwhile councillors have expressed support for the workers.

"I would say 99 percent of our officers are reasonable and co-operative," said long serving district councillor John Marjoram (Green, Trinity).

"I think they have been driven to this action because they can see no other way through.

"Councillors have a right to intervene now because local services will start to be affected."