A trade union has hit out proposals by the Highlands Council to reduce its working week to four and a half days, saying the plan is not viable.
GMB Scotland said the move, if approved by the council, would have a negative impact on staff and on service delivery.
Liz Gordon, GMB Scotland regional officer, said; ‘We understand the council want to condense everybody’s hours. This is not a plan that we see as viable. We don’t see where cost savings would be made. And we’re concerned about the impact on staff, condensing a whole week’s work in this way.
‘It would pose all sorts of complications including the costs of child minding, for example. There are also service delivery concerns. There will be particular legislative impacts on issues as essential as education and winter maintenance.’
GMB Scotland called on the council to allow staff to condense their hours voluntarily, rather than having the policy enforced across the council.
Earlier this week, council budget leader, Cllr Bill Fernie, said: ‘At this stage this is just a proposal, but we think it is a good idea and one which compare very favourably with some of the other options coming forward, and we will be consulting widely.'
