A union has said it will ballot members in response to a threat from two local authorities to terminate over three and a half thousand members of staff before reengaging them.
Wandsworth and Richmond councils have issued statutory notices threatening to make 3,578 staff across both councils redundant unless they agree to sign new changed contracts of employment by the end of October 2016.
GMB, a union for council workers, describes the move as an ‘unnecessarily aggressive approach’ that will only alienate council workers.
The councils wish to harmonise terms and conditions of employment for the majority of their non-school based employees, as part of a drive to create a single staffing structure across both Wandsworth and Richmond councils.
The proposed contract changes were first published and discussed last year.
In a letter sent to GMB, Richmond Council explained: ‘The councils have been trying to effect those changes by way of collective agreement with recognised trade unions, but the council has now reached the stage where it appears unlikely that this will be achievable.
‘The council will therefore need to look at seeking individual agreement with the employees affected to change their terms and conditions in order to achieve harmonisation through that route.’
If individual employees refuse to accept the new contracts, the councils will be able to terminate their employment and reengage them with the new terms and conditions under section 188 of the Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992.
Paul Grafton, GMB regional organiser, said: ‘GMB will be undertaking a consultative ballot of our members in due course to ascertain what action they may wish to take as a result of the threat.
‘GMB is committed to negotiate a better deal for staff than one that is currently on the table but see the issuing of these statutory notices as nothing short of an unnecessarily aggressive approach that does no more but alienate its staff.’
Responding to GMB's decision to ballot its members, Paul Martin, Chief Executive of Wandsworth Council, and Gillian Norton, Chief Executive of Richmond Council, said:
'As part of our work to create a joint staffing structure across Wandsworth and Richmond Councils, we have been in constructive negotiations with the recognised trade unions since September 2015 in order to agree harmonised terms and conditions for staff from both boroughs.
'Although the Councils remain fully committed to further negotiations in order to achieve a Collective Agreement, because of the timetable for the implementation of the shared staffing arrangement, it was necessary to issue the sc 188 notice as a precaution in order to fulfil the legislative requirement.
'Late last week this position was fully explained to the local trade union representatives at their weekly meeting. We are still working towards a Collective Agreement with the trade unions. It is still our aim and hope that this will be achievable. We will continue with further talks tomorrow and weekly meetings thereafter.'
