180 jobs to be axed in Birmingham social services
Coun Ward (Lab Shard End) said compulsory redundancies would be in breach of the Single Status agreement between council and unions. He added: “Under Single Status there is something called the employee bargain, which was a pledge to keep people in work if they were prepared to move to different jobs within the council. How does this fit in with the employee bargain?”
In a cabinet report, Mr Hay praised the threatened staff who he said had demonstrated “considerable dedication and professionalism” in ensuring a high level of care continued to be given to the residents, service-users and their families.
Almost 160 employees at risk of redundancy have been transferred to other posts in the council.
Last night, Mr Hay confirmed that 133 care staff and 47 catering and domestic staff at the old people’s homes would lose their jobs. He added: “The closure order of our remaining homes is out to consultation and we estimate that staff working in these homes will continue to be employed for up to a further five years.
“Staff were given statutory notices of potential redundancy in January and June. These redundancies are likely to take effect by mid-July 2009.
“A full support programme has been developed for staff and there has been consultation with unions throughout.”
He said many other councils were in the same position as Birmingham, responding to a shift away from traditional local authority institutional care for older people toward provision by the private and independent sectors.
