Union threatens strike action over plans to cut 100 jobs in adult social care

A UNION “fightback” against more than 100 job cuts could see staff take industrial action at Lincolnshire’s largest council.

Unison members at Lincolnshire County Council are to be asked if they want to “work to rule”, ensuring they work only their contracted hours and take full breaks.

The Conservative-controlled authority was also warned yesterday strike action could be considered.

Lincolnshire Unison branch secretary John Sharman revealed a formal dispute had been submitted against the county council’s adult social care proposals.

These include a management restructure with ten per cent of the department’s 1,400 staff being cut and potential privatisation of council-owned care homes.

An estimated 70 people attended a protest rally outside County Offices, in Newland, Lincoln, in which council leader Martin Hill was labelled a pantomime villain.

But Mr Sharman told the Echo he hoped talks and arbitration between the two groups will prevent the need for industrial action.

Addressing union members, he said: “You have just been shouting ‘they say cutback, we say fightback’. I can bring you news this morning the fightback has begun.

“Yesterday, we, in line with a mandate we were given by 200 members in a meeting held at Horncastle, launched a formal dispute with Lincolnshire County Council of its proposals with adult social care.

“We have made a formal request to the East Midlands regional secretary to proceed to ballot on industrial action.

“We are in this for real change and that is the message we are giving to the county councillors and the people of Lincolnshire.”

Lincoln Stop The Cuts member Dave Tompkins, who works in the private sector, said he attended to show “solidarity” with council staff.

He said: “I think the protest is brilliant and we need to see more action by trade unions in Lincolnshire and across the entire country.”

Unison steward Richard Banks, said: “We are not just here to save our jobs. We are here because we care. We don’t want the dismantling of the welfare state with the rich getting richer and the poor getting poorer.”

Council leader, Councillor Hill, said the authority’s main responsibility was to provide the best quality services at the best price.

Labour group leader Councillor Robert Parker asked the Tories at yesterday’s full council meeting to explain why there was a 25 per cent reduction in adult social care for next year, when the council’s Government grant had been cut by 11 per cent.

Executive member for adult social care, Councillor Graham Marsh, responded: “I am not aware we have made a 25 per cent cut for this year.

“It’s a 25 per cent cut over four years. Can I just say, we have not just decided to do this, we have been preparing this for a long time.”