Council job cuts 'will create an overstretched workforce with low morale'
COUNCIL staff are likely to be overstretched and demoralised if the workforce is slashed, union officials have warned.
Unison is concerned over the impact a cut in numbers will have on the workload of staff.
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Hull City Council.
It comes after the council asked all staff if they wanted to apply for voluntary redundancy.
The city's biggest employer has made the move ahead of the results of the Government's spending review next month, when large cuts to council funding are expected to be announced.
Unison's communications officer Adrian Kennett said: "We don't support this voluntary redundancy because it means a cut in service for the people of Hull.
"The effect on those left is also a major concern.
"In many areas it will put more work on those already stretched to the limit.
"There will be friction and morale issues. We have already had members ringing up who are worried about their future.
"It will mean more people off with stress and health issues which will make the situation even worse."
Mr Kennett also believes the council move could prove a false economy.
"Our past experience shows this is rarely a smooth ride and we will lose a lot of skilled people," he said.
"We also find the council ends up taking them back through agencies, which ends up costing even more money."
The council hasn't indicated how many jobs may go through voluntary redundancy, but Mr Kennett fears the worst.
He said: "We don't know what the numbers involved will be.
"But if the Government is talking about 25 to 40 per cent cuts, then a sizeable chunk will involve staff losses.
"We were only made aware of the council's plans a couple of weeks ago. We will be meeting with the council to get more information from them.
"We will just have to deal with the fallout.
The decision is a pre-emptive move by the council, which is bracing itself for the cuts set to be announced by the Government next month.
Council leader Carl Minns said staff were only being invited to submit expressions of interest in taking voluntary redundancy at this stage.
He also confirmed the council was not looking to make any compulsory redundancies.
The council says posts that become vacant as a result of the programme will not be filled.
But those in posts where there is a "clear business need" for the job to be retained will not have their interest in voluntary redundancy supported.
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by Mike, Hull
Sunday, September 12 2010, 10:13AM
“there are lots of points in coparing councils it gives you an average and although councils will emplyee people doing different things. The workforce size will be comparable. So as someone puts earlier Hull a quarter of a million 14000 employees Sheffield half a million 14000 employees conclusion Hull overmanned.”
by anon, at my desk
Friday, September 10 2010, 8:23AM
“I worked for the council and quit a couple of years ago. It made me smile when I read words like 'over worked', 'demoralised', 'overstretched'. What a joke, the department where I worked, they talked the talk but never any action took place and nothing ever went live. 2 hour lunches, coming in early, leaving early were the norm. The only thing I miss about the council is the time off. I had accummulated 29 days annual leave and could take off an extra 2 days a month if put in extra time. There were always people off 'sick' in the department and for some months at a time for 'stress'. People took family leave which didn't impact on their annual leave just to tend to their sick children. It's time that the council woke up to the 21st century where people have to actually work for their money. A mass kull is what is required.”
by Trev, Work
Friday, September 10 2010, 1:57AM
“Better off on the dole...”
by Onka, Hull
Thursday, September 09 2010, 10:38PM
“Cant really compare Sheffield staffing levels to Hull because they outsource nearly every service they offer, getting bent over whilst doing so.
This basically means Hull CC losing skilled staff only to get them back in at a higher price through the private sector.
Hull CC currently have huge schemes to implement and no one left with the technical knowledge to oversee them because of culls like this. Your typical manager in the council these days has no technical abilties and is at times only good for filling out sickness forms and taking leave request often managing better qualified and more skilled staff.”
by Onka, Hull
Thursday, September 09 2010, 10:36PM
“Cant really compare Sheffield staffing levels to Hull because they outsource nearly every service they offer, getting bent over whilst doing so.
This basically means Hull CC losing skilled staff only to get them back in at a higher price through the private sector.
Hull CC currently have huge schemes to implement and no one left with the technical knowledge to oversee them because of culls like this. Your typical manager in the council these days has no technical abilties and is at times only good for filling out sickness forms and taking leave request often managing better qualified and more skilled staff.”
by Glen, Hull
Thursday, September 09 2010, 9:32PM
“HCC could save money if they didn't spend so much on company cars for some of their staff, they could give out decent cars for half the price.”
by Wilf, Hull
Thursday, September 09 2010, 5:21PM
“Although I feel sorry for staff who will be overworked, I know that there are lots of other council staff who have plenty of spare time during the day. Enough to stand around chatting or play games during work time on their computers.
Part of the problem may be weak management and - sad to say - the strength of the union which make it difficult for managers to manage awkward staff.
However the council has more than its fair share of bad managers too.”
by jonny, hull
Thursday, September 09 2010, 3:29PM
“matt, go take your religion elsewhere pal, egosum could come and chat a a bit of latin with you. Should there not be a space between ego and sum? or is that your brand name? if you axe all the people now, dont moan when nothing you want the council to do gets done. by the way your post of - stupid thicko steve and my friend my name is for those who know dead languages to identify me not the great uneducated unwashed like you.- one of the saddest things ive ever read on here, fact!”
by Egosum, Hull
Thursday, September 09 2010, 3:14PM
“Well done Matt”
by Matt, Hull
Thursday, September 09 2010, 3:00PM
“shame you are arguing about what someone has written rather than the article but this egosum (I am) is right. The council has been traditional over employer in the area and that has a price. The Managemnt levels are far more than in industry and lets face it if the Roman Catholics can do it with 4 levels from Priest to Holy Father and exist for 2 millenum then so can the council or any other company.”