Councillors recommend three-month staff consultation over cost-cutting measures

Orkney Islands Council is to consult with trade unions and staff regarding proposed cuts to terms and conditions for some of the local authority’s frontline staff.

Meeting on Tuesday, the council’s development and infrastructure committee recommended a three-month consultation over proposals for changes to locally-agreed allowances and other terms and conditions.

The council also criticised the GMB Scotland union for “misrepresenting” its proposals in statements released to the press.

The council has said it is seeking to address an expected £9.5 million reduction in funding from Government between 2017 and 2020.

The OIC’s executive director of corporate services Gillian Morrison, said a number of proposals were considered on Tuesday and the recommendation will now go to a full council meeting later this month.

She said: “We fully appreciate that this is a matter of concern for our staff. So it is important to stress that no decision has been taken – that can only happen once the formal consultation has taken place and when its outcome has been carefully considered by Elected Members, including the timing and process for implementing any changes.”

She added: “It is a source of great disappointment to us that one of the unions, the GMB, decided to release statements to the media which often contained inaccurate and misleading information on private discussions, and has created a degree of unnecessary concern amongst some of our staff.

“We value our front-line staff, who are hugely important to our organisation as the backbone of the services we provide.

“We are putting forward proposals for consultation on very modest changes which will, crucially, help us preserve jobs.

“We respect the right of our trade unions to look after their members’ interests. However, the GMB’s actions in misrepresenting the proposals have been unhelpful to everyone involved, particularly our staff.”

GMB Scotland responded, welcoming the recommendation to consult but has warned council officials that the campaign to defend workers terms and conditions will continue.

GMB Scotland Organiser Liz Gordon said the union will play its part in the consultation process and will use the three-month period to fight for the defence of our members’ livelihood’s and interests.

She said: “It’s no misrepresentation to say the council have a range of alternatives at their disposal to mitigate the Scottish Government’s damaging austerity, including raising funds from its property portfolio, and it should explore this before imposing cuts on staff.

“We can expect more bad news for councils when the Scottish Government tables its draft budget in a fortnight but while we have sympathy for local councillors we won’t accept a meek management of decline that could plunge our members into poverty pay.”