Unions clash with Coventry City Council chiefs over job loss
Posted: Fri Jan 28, 2011 3:19 pmUnion have clashed with Coventry City Council chiefs in talks over 1000 job losses - raising the prospect of industrial action.
One union leader told the Telegraph the two sides have failed to reach agreement, and described talks as “tense” and “not constructive”.
Unions have pledged to fight any compulsory redundancies, and fear plans so far raise the prospect of workers being sacked.
In strongly worded comments, Sarah Ferguson, Unison branch secretary, broke with the unions’ and Labour council leaders’ earlier agreement that negotiations had been “constructive”.
As reported in yesterday’s Telegraph, council bosses have so far accepted only 170 applications for voluntary redundancy or early retirement from among 650 staff who have applied to leave.
The council says more applications could be accepted.
But Ms Ferguson said the 170 figure was worryingly low and raised the prospect of compulsory redundancies.
She added unions are also unhappy about terms and conditions to be offered to staff redeployed to new positions, if their current posts are made redundant.
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I doubt very much the council cares what any union says these days?
