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Daily Record
Daily Record
National
Record Reporter

Dundee City Council staff set to strike in row over over changes to staff contracts

Around 500 council workers are set to go on strike following a dispute with Dundee City Council over changes to staff contracts.

Unite members in the city council's construction and environmental services departments are set to take part in the action beginning on 1 July, with strikes planned every Monday and Tuesday thereafter.

An overtime ban is also planned, with the council's parks, leisure and culture and housing departments also set to be balloted for industrial action .

Dundee City Council said it was open to talks with the union over changes to a pay and conditions policy.

Unite claims the policy allows the local authority to impose compulsory redundancies, limit flexible retirement and reduce pay protection for staff moved to lower grade posts.

The council, though, maintains that its "commitment to avoiding compulsory job losses is as strong as ever".

George Ramsay, Unite regional industrial officer, said: "This is an emphatic result for strike action from Unite members who are determined to oppose the imposition of changes to their contracts.

"Dundee City Council's new policy not only shamefully opens the door for workers to be made redundant but potentially at a reduced cost to the council.

"This is the legal reality of the changes and no one should underestimate the impact that this may have on job security and the protections currently available to workers.

"The council has made a grave mistake in believing that they can behave like the worst of employers by failing to consult on these changes, and then they have the audacity to invite us back to 'negotiate' some concessions from them."

95 per cent of Unite members voted to strike on a 68 per cent turnout, with more departments still set to be balloted over additional action.

A Dundee City Council spokeswoman said: "We continue to be proactive in our efforts to reach a way forward which will avoid the need for industrial action and will keep the channels of communication open with the trade unions and our workforce.

"This policy is not about compulsory redundancies, nor is it about any changes to staff contracts. Our commitment to avoiding compulsory job losses is as strong as ever.

"Instead it is about allowing the council to change, modernise and redesign services to meet citizens' future needs and deal with financial challenges.

"Those challenges have been significant - we have been required to make savings of over £65m since 2016 - and look likely to continue."

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