Industrial action backed by Shropshire Council staff

Unison said 66% of its members at Shropshire Council voted to take industrial action.

The full results of the recent Unision members ballot will be discussed at a special meeting of all Shropshire Council employed members.

Council’s chief executive gives response
Shropshire Council’s chief executive has given his response to the news that UNISON members have voted to go ahead with industrial action, including a potential strike.

Kim Ryley said:

“We are very unhappy about the possible disruption of public services that this industrial action poses and will do all we can to reduce the impact on local people. We have urged UNISON to keep talking to us about how we can fulfil our promise to protect local jobs and a full range of services to Shropshire residents. But, the Trade Union has refused to do this.

“The changes to terms and conditions are designed to avoid making 500 staff redundant. They affect 6,500 staff, and fewer than one in three of these are members of UNISON. The result of the ballot shows that only about 500 people – a small minority of UNISON members – voted for strike action. By comparison 1,500 staff have already accepted the new terms and conditions.

“It is clear from this that most council staff do not see UNISON’s actions as being in their best interest. Other trade unions, like the GMB, continue to work with us on positive alternatives to strike action.”

Council leader questions subsidy
The news of the ballot result also comes as leader of the Council, Councillor Keith Barrow, questioned whether paying a subsidy of close to £100,000 to UNISON represents good use of public money.

Councillor Barrow said:

“Trade Unions have an important role to play in helping the Council make positive changes to improve our services and make our hard-working staff even more productive. But, at a time when we are cutting our costs, it cannot be right that UNISON is using the funding the Council provides to support its activities, to build up a war chest to generate support for its members.

“The local people I have mentioned this to find it astonishing that UNISON receives a subsidy of close to £100,000 a year from the Council. The funding covers salaries of the UNISON branch’s two full-time officials, a part time post and use of offices and a social club at Shirehall.

“This is much more than the support we provide for any other trade union. It has meant that UNISION are able to take out full page advertisements in the local press, urging their members to take strike action over changes in the Council which are designed to protect local jobs and essential services.

“Now that more people are aware of this, as part off our moves to make Council funding decisions more open and transparent, there can be a healthy debate about what is good value for local people.

“It cannot be right that such public funding frees up money to be used by the UNISON on political campaigns. It would be better spent on extra care workers for the elderly or staff for our excellent children’s centres.”

Councillor Barrow has confirmed that he is seeking a quick way to reduce UNISON’s funding from the Council significantly. This would bring it into line with the level of support provided to other trade unions locally.

Unison is the largest union represented on Shropshire Council with 3,700 members.