Dudley Council staff avert strike action

Revised terms and conditions to contracts will save the council over £1.6m over the next three years.

Staff originally rejected proposals put forward by bosses in an initial ballot to 'test the water' to see if there was an appetite for industrial action.

The new agreement means that staff will be paid 10p less per mile for mileage allowances, meaning they will be paid 45p, the HMRC recommended amount, compared to the 55p is previously paid.

Staff will also have to take three days unpaid leave from 2017/18 onwards and member allowances will be reduced.

Overtime payments for anyone earning over £36,000 will also be stopped in a bid to save £77,000.

Unite spokesman Shaun Noble, said: “In the recent ballot outcomes Unison and GMB members voted to accept the proposed package put forward by Dudley Council Unite members voted to reject.

"Unite recognises that this constitutes a majority decision to accept by the locally recognised unions and therefore can be implemented by the council."

UKIP councillor Paul Brothwood said the 'right decision' had been made, 'as painful as it is'.

He said: "Paying 55p per mile for mileage was extortionate.

"As an opposition we're pushing for huge savings and we've been working with the Conservatives to bring these changes in.

"I welcome the fact the unions have backed down as we would've been in a scenario where we couldn't balance the budget and would've had to make more severe cuts.

"The staff have made the right decision, as painful as it is."

Council bosses insist that money must be saved as it needs to trim £25m from its spending over the next three years.

Councillor Pete Lowe, leader of Dudley Council said: “We have been working closely with the unions and have successfully reached a collective agreement on the revised terms and conditions.

“We have had to think long and hard about these proposals in the face of continued reductions in government funding, and while our dedicated staff continue go above and beyond, these proposals actually allow us protect more jobs and essential front line services.

“I’m grateful to staff for the thought and consideration they gave to these proposed changes when they made the decision to accept them, in order to deliver a high standard of services to residents."