Anger over costs of council chief’s appeal to staff

A TOP council official has told thousands of workers: Think before you vote to strike.

But Adrian Lythgo’s message to Kirklees Council staff has come under fire – because it cost thousands of pounds to post it out.

The chief executive has personally appealed to the workers who are members of the Unison union and are balloting on industrial action over compulsory redundancies.

But it has been revealed the authority spent more than £3,000 in mailing out the appeal letters.

Mr Lythgo defended his decision, saying it was vital he communicated with all staff on an issue as important as voting.

He said: “Strikes are expensive: many of our staff cannot afford to strike.

“They are also costly for residents who have to cope with services being unavailable.”