Kirklees Council in talks with Unite union over jobs

Dec 27 2010 Huddersfield Daily Examiner

LEADERS of 1,000 Kirklees Council workers will this week embark on crucial talks aimed at saving jobs.

Officials of Unite, which represents workers in highway services, building services and environmental health, is hopeful they will avoid having to consider industrial action over impending Kirklees cuts.

The news comes days after the council’s biggest union, Unison, confirmed they had voted in favour of a five-day strike – albeit with a tiny majority.

Both sets of workers fear that the council will make workers redundant as part of efforts to save millions of pounds.

The authority has already announced 1,700 jobs will be going, but unions hope many will be through natural wastage and voluntary redundancy.

The Unison officials are to decide when the strike will start, but it is expected to be between January 4 and 17 and will halt many council services.

Unite, however, are hopeful that continued talks with council chiefs will mean action by their members will not be necessary.

Regional organiser Terry Cunliffe said: “We are continuing to hold negotiations with Kirklees to see if we can reach agreement on avoiding compulsory redundancies.

“Other councils have managed it. There are other things to consider such as flexible working or by ending sub-contracting. Seeing someone lose a job in these economic times is terrible.

“I know Unison have voted for a strike and they did so with a ballot. Our instructions to our members will be to work normally and do nothing to interfere with their action and there will be some individuals who will not want to cross a picket line.

“But we are hopeful the talks with the council will continue after the Christmas break and we hope to get a resolution before the start of January.”

The Unison action is expected to impact on many council services including schools, gritting and bin collections.