Stirling Council under fire over staff contract changes as union mulls action
Stirling Council is facing a backlash from staff after controversial changes were made to their terms and conditions, including future redundancy payments.
Management said the moves - voted through by Conservative and SNP councillors - would ensure 'tasks not people' would be considered redundant, create a 'talent pool' within the council, and would a better use of taxpayers' money.
However, the Labour minority administration and Green councillor Alasdair Tollemache backed the view of UNISON, the largest union, which said the new system would 'strip' and reduce the terms, conditions and workplace rights of Stirling Council employees, damage morale and the council's reputation, and make it even harder to retain and recruit suitable staff.
UNISON now say they have 'no alternative' but to lodge a formal grievance/dispute and consult its members on further action.
At a full council meeting on Thursday, councillors considered a paper on the 'Organisational Change Policy'.
Key changes include the removal of added years and discretionary enhancements in cases of redundancy. In their place, affected staff would be offered either suitable alternative employment, statutory redundancy pay (the minimum legal entitlement), or placement in a 'talent pool', the details of which critics say remain unclear.
The paper also proposes introducing settlement agreements for employees approved for voluntary redundancy, requiring them to sign Non-Disclosure Agreements (NDAs) - commonly dubbed 'gagging clauses' - estimated to cost the council £600 each, and described by the union as a 'bizarre twist'.
Despite opposition from the four Labour councillors and Cllr Tollemache, the proposal was passed with the support of the eight SNP councillors present, who sided with the Conservatives to approve the changes.
'Stirling Council's approach is an insult to its dedicated workforce,' said Lorraine Thomson, UNISON Branch Secretary. 'They're pushing drastic changes that make it easier to cut jobs and force loyal employees out, all while refusing basic information.'
UNISON local government lead officer David O'Connor added: 'We are in no doubt given the on-going lack of fair funding to local authorities by Scottish Government that existing staff will be left with further work pressures and will essentially be left to carry the load.
'There needs to be a viable alternative to statutory redundancy payments should posts be at future risk.
'However, what's being proposed here lacks detail and has no financial commitment around funding, which is essential to make it work.'
The union also say the approach is 'two-tier' given that teaching staff will not be affected as they come under a separate agreement, and that while five other local authorities had taken the same moves, 26 other councils had decided not to go down that route.
Council leader, Labour councillor Gerry McGarvey, said: 'This proposal removes security and fairness for employees in the Stirling Council; it also reduces the council's attractiveness as an employer due to fewer protections for employees.
'Instead of working with Labour to bring forward a package which respected workers' rights, the SNP have supported the Tories to weaken terms and conditions.'
SNP councillors, however, said 'their' policy had been passed after months of consultation with senior officers and was one of 'no compulsory staff redundancies and a commitment from senior council management to focus on staff retention, training and job security across the council'.
SNP group leader Cllr Susan McGill said: 'This policy values employees, recognises employees and demonstrates how important they are to bring about real change in how the council provides services. On something as basic as this, Labour failed to lead.'
SNP finance spokesperson Cllr Gerry McLaughlan said the previous system made it 'more attractive' for people to leave the council than to stay, and the council was 'desperately short of trained and experienced people', with management 'strained to the gunnels'.
He added: 'The SNP has secured a policy that, quite simply, values people. It retains staff whilst offering meaningful training and security of employment. Contrast that with Labour; happy to take nearly £200,000 in salaries yet too weak to show leadership on behalf of anyone else.'
Conservative group leader Cllr Neil Benny said the new policy was 'right and fair both to our employees and to the taxpayers of Stirling'.
But Labour councillor David Wilson said the proposals fell 'far short of what is required to provide staff security, fairness and dignity', adding: 'This is a weakening of the council's terms and conditions and is likely to reduce Stirling Council's attractiveness as an employer of choice. The council has already faced challenges in attracting staff for certain posts.
'The creation of a talent pool is ambitious but there's no clear budget or plan for training staff within this pool.'
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