The GMB union has criticised Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council over its plans to ‘fire and rehire’ 500 workers.
Council chief executive Graham Farrant has informed staff in writing of the possibility they could be dismissed and re-engaged on new terms – a practice the Government is expected to ban soon.
GMB senior organiser Nick Day said: ‘It is appalling that on the verge of Christmas, a public sector employer has dropped this email into the inboxes of its hard-working staff, threatening them all with the sack.
‘As a recognised union, GMB had no sight of this Scrooge-like email before it was sent and it flies in the face of constructive discussions held last Monday.’
The plans will be put before senior councillors on Tuesday.
Mr Farrant said the council had been working on a new pay structure for five years to address inequalities that remained after Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole was formed following local government reorganisation.
He added: ‘We have no plans to serve notice to colleagues before Christmas and we are simply ensuring that we have the right processes in place should we need them as a last resort.’
