PRESS RELEASE – Wokingham Borough Council to Reduce the Head Count by 100 in the Next 12 Months
Embargo: Immediate Release (July 27th, 2010)
The Coalition Government’s in year cuts to local government grants and the emergency budget means that Wokingham Borough Council needs to achieve an additional £1.2 m savings this financial year.
Last week, Susan Law, the Council’s Chief Executive gave a high level briefing to employees on how Wokingham is proposing to make these savings. Proposals include accelerating the Transformation Project with savings being achieved by a massive job cut of 100 posts within 12 months as well as eroding employees’ terms and conditions of employment.
In response, Paul Bee Wokingham UNISON’s Branch Secretary has this to say:
The staff briefings have left employees angry and anxious about their future, service delivery and how these cuts will inevitably impact on the local economy. We are not surprised that Susan Law has some tough decisions to make as a result of the unnecessary but intentional and ideologically fuelled attacks by the Coalition Government on the public sector. It seems from the current proposals on the table that it is Wokingham Borough employees who, already facing a two year pay freeze and are struggling to survive financially because of increased energy, fuel and food costs, are expected to take the most pain and bear the brunt of cutting the deficit created by the Banks.
Low paid workers, who already face pay freezes and job cuts, will now also see their services and household income cut.
UNISON are currently looking at staff’s suggestions about how savings can be made that meets Wokingham’s need to reduce costs by £1.2m. We will be seeking a dialogue over the Council’s finances, as we believe that savings can be achieved without deleting 100 posts and eroding our terms and conditions of employment.
ENDS
Paul Bee
UNISON Branch Secretary
Mobile: 07533615663
How much money has Wokingham wasted on consultants? Why haven’t the council used what skills they have already within their existing staff?
Consultation – “a meeting to discuss, decide, or plan something” –
Does Wokingham have their own definition of Consultation?
How much does Susan Law and the elected members earn/claim in expenses?
Yes, Wokingham Borough Council has it’s own interpretation on what is a consultation…this is to make a decision then hold a few public meetings to let the general public know what will be happening.
Sadly residents of Wokingham will not realise that the Transformation of the Council will in effect privatise the services people take for granted.
Thanks for your comments ‘Concerned from Wokingham’. I would imagine that we have spent a disgusting amount on consultants who, in my opinion, will have no long term interest in the services we provide or the staff that provide them. I understand your view but cannot answer why the skills of existing staff have not been used. Laziness and a complete disregard of our staff by management perhaps? Only yesterday (28/7)I reminded HR that UNISON requires genuine consultation to take place and by that enough time to consult with our members and gain opinion and report back. We will continue to put pressure on management to respect our basic rights with regard to consultation. Unfortunately we are, in my opinion, being blackmailed by the threat that if we delay the process this could result in the loss of a job! You decide if Wokingham has it’s own definition! I don’t know how much Susan Law claims in expenses, perhaps we should send WBC a Freedom of Information Request asking for that information. As for the elected members, we understand that their entitlement is just under £500k.
Regards
Malcolm Lee