Council workers to find out more about controversial contracts

Nov 25 2008 by Barry Gibson, Huddersfield Daily Examiner

THOUSANDS of council workers are finding out about controversial changes to their pay and conditions and many will be better off.

Kirklees is in the middle of a massive briefing exercise with 14,000 staff.

All council workers except teachers have been offered new contracts to protect Kirklees against being sued for discrimination.

Union members have criticised the move, but council bosses say people will benefit.

This month council workers staged a fiery protest by burning letters from Kirklees which came with their new contracts.

The council’s human resources director, Cliff Stewart, is now carrying out 52 briefing sessions which he hopes will be attended by 12,000 of the 14,000 workers affected.