Strike Looming Over Jobs Threat
The threat of strike action looms at London’s worst performing town hall. Unison members at Lambeth council are to be balloted over plans to make up to 50 redundancies in the borough’s children and young people’s department.
The strike could bring disruption to the education and social care of youngsters. Extra-curricular activities for kids could also be cancelled if industrial action goes ahead. Labour-run Lambeth plans to make the redundancies as part of a cost-cutting drive.
It is the second time this year the borough’s leaders have culled jobs. Around 90 people have already been made redundant in the housing department as part of an “efficiency project”.
Unison representatives have said they have “no confidence” in the way the reorganisation of the children and young people’s department is being managed. Unison representative Jon Rogers said: “Up to 50 staff face the threat of losing their jobs as the council reorganised the department.
“We are demanding there are no compulsory redundancies. Senior managers have been telling us they want to avoid compulsory redundancies but we have no confidence in the way this reorganisation is being mismanaged. There is no excuse for threatening job losses while the council is wasting thousands of pounds on consultants including senior individuals in the department where the job losses are proposed. The council is also using hundreds of workers from expensive agencies rather than directly employing staff.”
Lambeth’s cabinet member for children and young people said she hoped Unison would not strike. Councillor Sally Prentice said: “There is a realignment taking place in the department to make efficient savings and it will mean some posts will be deleted. We are seeking to avoid compulsory redundancies but what the union needs to accept is that change is integral to delivering modern and efficient public services.”
The council is the worst performing local authority in London according to local government watchdog the Audit Commission.
