Dramatic workforce slash

A Tory-controlled council in London has planned to slash its directly employed workforce from 3,000 workers to just 300 in a relentless march towards privatisation of its services.

 
The move has provoked Unite to ballot its members for strike action.

 
The union has 400 members working for the council – from library assistants to youth and care workers – but will only ballot 100 of these members who are directly employed by the local authority, and not those employed by private contractors on the council’s behalf.

 
Unite regional officer Onay Kasab argued that the council’s privatisation drive harms residents as much as it harms the council workforce.

 
“We have been out every Saturday meeting residents to discuss the cuts,” he explained. “Our library consultation has seen hundreds of residents returning responses making clear that they do not want a private company running libraries, nor do they want a volunteer-run service as proposed by councillors.

 
“The council has declared war on public services, public service workers and the trade unions,” said Kasab. “It is not acting on behalf of residents.”

 
Kasab said that the slashing of thousands of directly employed staff would mean that private outsourcing companies would move to employ staff on reduced pay and terms and conditions.

 
“We believe this cost-cutting exercise won’t benefit the people of Bromley, as this is a race to the bottom in terms of quality service-deliver,” he said. “We have offered to discuss a ‘procurement strategy’ to safeguard service quality, but the council has refused.”

 
Kasab went on to say that the council’s proposals would hit the most vulnerable members of the community the hardest.
“Unite’s strategy would place an emphasis on quality rather than cost-cutting,” he added.

 
The ballot, which will open on March 11 and close on March 27, comes in the wake of important public services in the council being ruthless cut.

 
Last week, Bromley council chiefs agreed to proposals to close public toilets and scrap an elderly care home, while the future of Orpington Priory, home to the borough’s museum, hangs in the balance.

 
The Tory-controlled council also recently moved to scrap trade union facility time, which will leave many council workers without access to a union rep.

 
“There is no time left to lose – the council is arrogantly pushing ahead and destroying services,” warned Kasab. “That is why we are now balloting our members for strike action.”