Swindon social workers told of plan to unlawfully dock pay
Swindon Borough Council managers have told GMB members that they will be deducting 7 days pay for the first week of the strike from all staff, even for those who are on holiday, off sick, or not on roster to work.
Swindon Borough Council managers have told GMB members that they will be deducting 7 days pay for the first week of the strike from all staff, even for those who are on holiday, off sick, or not on roster to work.
Currently, seven social workers in the Emergency Duty Service, which provides an out of hours service for vulnerable adults and children are on strike, after a £700 allowance was removed for working unsocial hours.
The Council’s plan is an unlawful deduction of wages, and GMB is pledged to challenge this in the courts to recover this money for our members.
Andy Newman, GMB Branch Secretary explains:
“GMB members on the picket lines today were extremely worried that they have been told they will lose money, not just for the days they are on strike, but for all days, even when they would not be working. Not only would this be an unlawful deduction of wages, but would also be an unlawful detriment for trade union activity. GMB believes that managers are trying to intimidate staff from taking strike action.
“We are genuinely shocked that a Labour Council is employing every trick in the unions busters’ handbook. Not only unlawfully threatening to deduct wages, but they sought to by-pass the union last week by making an offer direct to members, instead of through GMB. Bypassing unions by making offers direct to members is typically unlawful, because it perpetuates bad industrial relations. Our members felt very uncomfortable and felt that this was inappropriate pressure on them.
“Swindon Borough Council also threatened to undermine the strike by using agency workers, which has been unlawful since the 1970s, because employers should be talking to unions to seek a resolution, not seeking to prolong strikes by finding alternative workers.
“GMB has called all along for the involvement of ACAS, the independent body that facilitates talks, but for reasons we do not understand, Swindon Borough Council are still refusing.
“GMB is particularly disappointed because these problems were inherited from the previous, failed Conservative administration, and GMB has worked really hard to find behind the scenes solutions with the new Labour council, but to no avail. Our members feel that it is like being in a bad restaurant, where the chef has been changed, but the food hasn’t improved.
“We have had talks with Swindon Borough Council officers, but those talks have now broken down, as the council are not prepared to discuss with us the remaining unresolved issues. The question of money has been largely resolved, but our members are worried that what has been given with one hand could be taken away with another, and they are seeking some legal underpinning of the offer.
“So GMB members are now locked into a industrial dispute, involving an emergency service, where unbelievably the employer is saying they won't negotiate further because the dispute is over. but it is not over while our members are still on the picket lines, and not at work. We call on Swindon Borough Council to engage in serious talks, through ACAS, to find a solution. "
ENDS
Media enquiries: GMB Press Office on 07958 156846 or at press.office@gmb.org.uk
Notes to Editors:
[1] [1]Under section s146 of the Trade Union and Labour Relations Consolidation Act 1992.
[1][2] Under section 145(b) of the Trade Union and Labour Relations Consolidation Act 1992.
