by David Skentelbery
UNION members among Warrington Borough Council's workforce are being let down by senior local representatives, according to council leader Terry O'Neill.
Walking away from the negotiating table and refusing to return and using provocative language such as "we're at war" is not the way to encourage meaningful dialogue, says Cllr O'Neill (right).
The controlling Labour group on the council has issued a statement in reply to an attack yesterday by local UNISON and GMB leaders who accused Labour of acting like a "dictatorship."
Deputy leader of the council Mike Hannon - who has the task of negotiating with the workforce over terms and conditions of employment - said: "This Labour administration has been faced with a difficult reality because we promised the electorate that we would abide by the budget and spending plans set by the previous Lib Dem-Tory administration.
"While we have no option but to try and find £2m savings from the workforce, our drive is to make the best of what we all accept is a bad situation.
"As a proud Warringtonian, I care about our workforce and that's why I've been taking a hands-on approach to engaging with staff on the terms and conditions proposals.
"So far I have talked to over 1,000 workers at various staff roadshows. I have listened and learned about the human impact of these changes and it's now likely that we'll look to modify some of the proposals at the conclusion of the formal consultation. I am also proposing to start a new round of service challenge meetings to evaluate the alternative ideas put forward by employees."
Cllr O'Neill said: "When we first saw the proposals our initial reaction was that some proposals, for example to stop providing retirement gifts for council staff, seemed sensible, but that others, like not being paid any sick pay for the first three days' sickness, were overly harsh.
"It's disappointing that the unions have failed to take advantage of numerous chances to engage positively with Mike and the administration - because as a Labour run council, our natural instinct was to work with them.
"But union members in Warrington have been let down by their senior local reps. Walking away from and refusing to return to the negotiating table and using provocative language like 'we're at war' is no way to encourage meaningful dialogue.
"Thankfully our staff have been willing to engage constructively with us, and it is their feedback that is helping the administration make these important decisions."
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Walking away from the negotiating table and refusing to return and using provocative language such as "we're at war" is not the way to encourage meaningful dialogue, says Cllr O'Neill (right).The controlling Labour group on the council has issued a statement in reply to an attack yesterday by local UNISON and GMB leaders who accused Labour of acting like a "dictatorship."
Deputy leader of the council Mike Hannon - who has the task of negotiating with the workforce over terms and conditions of employment - said: "This Labour administration has been faced with a difficult reality because we promised the electorate that we would abide by the budget and spending plans set by the previous Lib Dem-Tory administration.
"While we have no option but to try and find £2m savings from the workforce, our drive is to make the best of what we all accept is a bad situation.
"As a proud Warringtonian, I care about our workforce and that's why I've been taking a hands-on approach to engaging with staff on the terms and conditions proposals.
"So far I have talked to over 1,000 workers at various staff roadshows. I have listened and learned about the human impact of these changes and it's now likely that we'll look to modify some of the proposals at the conclusion of the formal consultation. I am also proposing to start a new round of service challenge meetings to evaluate the alternative ideas put forward by employees."
Cllr O'Neill said: "When we first saw the proposals our initial reaction was that some proposals, for example to stop providing retirement gifts for council staff, seemed sensible, but that others, like not being paid any sick pay for the first three days' sickness, were overly harsh.
"It's disappointing that the unions have failed to take advantage of numerous chances to engage positively with Mike and the administration - because as a Labour run council, our natural instinct was to work with them.
"But union members in Warrington have been let down by their senior local reps. Walking away from and refusing to return to the negotiating table and using provocative language like 'we're at war' is no way to encourage meaningful dialogue.
"Thankfully our staff have been willing to engage constructively with us, and it is their feedback that is helping the administration make these important decisions."
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12 Responses to ""Unions let down by their leaders"" 
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said this on 27 Oct 2011 8:35:37 AM BST
Compromise is always a useful way forward.
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said this on 27 Oct 2011 10:30:56 PM BST
Compromise is a ten letter word and that is a big ask for this administration to comprehend given their recorded performance to date.It is only recognised as usefull when all parties can accept that which can be proven and agree the truth and root cause of any situation in moving forward. One solution would be an open public debate ( live broadcast (radio, television and media coverage) With Councillor O'Neil /Hannon and the Trade Union officials representing their members in Warrington.Will the leader and deputy of this administration accept this opportunity and will they publicly request in an open and transparent manner to arrange the debate with the Leaders of GMB and UNISON in Warrington? Let us see whether their press release stacks up or falls on the basis it is pure fiction.Over to you Councillors if you are are confident in defending your version of a position statement!!!
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said this on 27 Oct 2011 10:28:50 AM BST
What is the Leader talking about - "when we first saw the proposals............." the proposals came from the LABOUR GROUP - or is this management lead as usual????????????? No wonder the unions can get no sense from them!!
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said this on 27 Oct 2011 12:40:43 PM BST
Wasn't this in the Lib Dem / Tory budget for this year? So the proposals to save £2m were THEIR proposals, INHERITED by a new Labour administration. That explains the "first saw" comment, because the previous lot always kept things on the quiet with no detail. The Unions should remember who first tabled the proposals, and who is trying to fix them in a fair and open way.
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said this on 27 Oct 2011 4:18:43 PM BST
Agreed Swede, the coaliation set a budget, with obvious savings to be made, but the Labour Executive board agreed the proposals in every detail - they are LABOUR PROPOSALS. The previous administration knew there was money to be saved, but didn't go for the easy target - council staff. Now if you can prove different, and the nitty gritty of the proposals where scribed by the coalition you win!
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said this on 27 Oct 2011 9:15:38 PM BST
No swede this was never in the previous administrations budget proposals.You and every one else should accept and remember this labour administration tabled these proposals.David Cameron would be proud of this administration.I have attended the Trade Union Roadshows (significant that they are NOT invited to attend the Mike Hannon Road show!!) I have listened and understood the truth about this Labour administration which has been a revelation.As a Trade Union member I am fortunate to receive communications with attachments and access to website details confirming the truth can be proven and is with the Unions.The sooner the Labour group recognise this the sooner plastic capitalist dictators mascerading as solicialists will be banished and only then will Warrington prosper in the face of adversity.Socialism died in Warrington May 2011. R.I.P.
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said this on 27 Oct 2011 6:01:32 PM BST
Cllr Hannon says ......"This Labour administration has been faced with a difficult reality because we promised the electorate that we would abide by the budget and spending plans set by the previous Lib Dem-Tory administration." I don't remember any such promises BEFORE the elections, wasn't this a decision made by them afterwards once they had gotten into power? I wonder if the electorate had been informed that they would be getting the same policies whosoever got into power whether they would have even bothered going to the polling stations? The fact is Labour IS now in power and what is done - no matter whose original idea it was - will be of their doing. So if the previous administrations plans don't sit easy with them - they should FORMULATE THEIR OWN!!
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said this on 27 Oct 2011 6:19:10 PM BST
Re the Union Bosses, - the Unions seem to have been nothing other than toothless organisations for years, the cuts have already butchered many on the lower rungs of the workforce - without it seemed, much union opposition -makes one wonder whose interests are at heart in the latest proposals - is the knife getting nearer the bone?
Isn't it about time both the Union Bosses and Politicians GREW UP and accept their responsibiies as being to work together IN THE PUBLIC INTEREST.
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said this on 28 Oct 2011 1:17:02 AM BST
Union Bosses have been adult and honoured their responsibilities for more years than you can obviously remember Sha.No cuts have butchered the lower rungs of the workforce in Warrington. In fact the front line in Warrington were recognised and upgraded as a direct consequence of the TRP under a Lib-Dem Conserversative administration.No cuts have ever been proposed in Warrington until now.Do not make comment based on what seems to be your opinion Subjective comment is irrelevant and detrimental to the truth.The Public Interest is at the heart of the matter given Warrington Borough Council Employees are the Public!! Having attended the Trade Union Roadshows,received member information/attachments to confirm objective positive activity on members (of which I am one) behalf it is clear the only party avoiding working together is the present leadership of the Labour administration.
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said this on 28 Oct 2011 11:31:47 AM BST
Pitbull says " No cuts have butchered the lower rungs of the workforce in Warrington. In fact the front line in Warrington were recognised and upgraded as a direct consequence of the TRP under a Lib-Dem Conserversative administration".
I suggest you ask around the frontline WBC workforce and you will find your statement is utter nonsense. Many frontline WBC staff lost money directly because of TRP. I'm talking thousands of pounds a year here too, not a few quid a week. Shift allowances were abolished for those who work out of normal hours, weekend pay was reduced by 60% etc. This mainly affected lower paid staff, as managers tend not to work weekends/out of hours. It was the unions who advised the workforce to vote to accept the TRP too, knowing many members would lose a substantial amount of money. Why didn't they kick up a fuss then!
You may be confusing TRP with JE, which was something completely different.
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said this on 28 Oct 2011 8:07:25 PM BST
What a joke! Of course these proposals are of the current Labour Group. If they don't like them then they should alter them but, of course, they don't have a clue. It is true that the lower rungs of the workforce have been dealt a bitter blow of the last few years. The previous coalition has nothing to be proud of when allowed the Managment at WBC to simply do as they liked. No protection was afforded to the lower rungs and it is FACT that staff were made "redundant" with half a days notice and told to leave the premises. The 90 day consultation period was not given and this period of time was simply p[aid to the employees. When the workforce see the Chief Executive and her Deputy given 9% pay increases how can they be anything other than bitter. The Labour Administration could have stopped those increases but chose not to. Good luck to the Trade Unions and the workforce but don't hold your breath since the ||Labour Group will already have made its mind up behind closed doors - they don't do consultation any more.
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said this on 28 Oct 2011 10:22:49 PM BST
"Pitbull, you say -"No cuts have ever been proposed in Warrington until now" -actually some public services have already been cut and as a consequence there have already been redundancies. That is not opinion that is fact!! Also, as Miffed has pointed out working conditions for some workers on the lower rungs have already been adversely affected! Re your other comment "The Public Interest is at the heart of the matter given Warrington Borough Council Employees are the Public!!" Yes, WBC employees are indeed members of the public as well as being Public employees, but they form only a small percentage of the general public. It is the interests of the majority of the general public which should be "at the heart of the matter"! The union leaders appear to be mainly concerned, not with the interests of the majority of the general public - nor even the majority of public sector workers. They appear to be interested only in a particular section of these workers and they also seem to have a political agenda. If this is not the case, perhaps you could ensure that all details of all proposals are published in full for public scrutiny - ie the proposals of the previous administration as well as those of the present administration - plus details on what you consider the "objective positive activity" of the unions. This would then enable members of the general public to make a fully informed opinion! rather than having to rely on biased opinions and political posturing.
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