'Last ditch' talks taking place to avoid Wiltshire traffic warden strike
Staff are due to walk out for seven days from tomorrow (30th June)
The GMB union and Wiltshire Council will take part in last minute talks today (Wednesday 29th June) will the aim of avoiding a week-long strike by traffic wardens.
Staff who are members of the trade union have been taking industrial action in a row over pay.
Two days of strikes have already been held, with a seven day walkout due to begin tomorrow (Thursday 30th June).
The Government's conciliatory service, ACAS, will be facilitating today's talks at County Hall in Trowbridge.
Keith Roberts, GMB Regional Organiser says:
“GMB are confident that there is a path to resolve this dispute, if the council want to take it. The council are proposing a 10% pay cut for traffic wardens, and a 20% pay cut for social workers.
“Our members do not agree to voluntarily accept this change to their contract, because they simply cannot afford to agree to this pay cut.
“GMB will happily work with the council to find other ways to save money, but we cannot accept our members taking home between £2000 and £7000 less in wages.
“GMB is totally focused on resolving this dispute. It is not in the interests of Wiltshire residents, Wiltshire council, or our members for there to be a strike if one can be avoided.
"When there is an industrial dispute, GMB are used to both unions and employers committing to talk as long as necessary to find a solution, and to burn the midnight oil if needed. We are disappointed that Wiltshire Council are not more committed to resolving this conflict. Nevertheless, GMB will work professionally with what we have to deal with, and every effort will be made from GMB to find a reasonable solution that works for everyone.
“Our concern is that the council have refused to rule out the controversial malpractice of ‘fire and rehire’, which rogue employers use to drive through changes by literally sacking their own staff and forcing them back on worse conditions.
“It is not too late for the council, at this eleventh hour, to rule out ‘fire and rehire’ and to start to restore the bonds of trust with their workforce that they have undermined. If, however, the council will not rule out ‘fire and rehire’ then GMB and our members will draw their own conclusions.
“We don’t want to fight, but if we have to, we will.”
Terence Herbert, Chief Executive of Wiltshire Council, said:
“We are still working to resolve this dispute, and continue our discussions through a working group with the three recognised unions, Unison, Unite the Union and GMB. The aim of the current discussions are to agree policies that are standardised, fit for purpose, financially viable and support delivery of the council’s Business Plan, while ensuring our staff are fairly and appropriately rewarded. There are no proposals to cut the base pay of any council staff.
“We are scheduled to attend an ACAS facilitated meeting with the GMB the day before this strike starts – but any outcomes of that meeting will need to be taken back into the working group for discussion with all three recognised unions.
“As we have been clear all along, workers’ base pay is not being cut and no final decisions have been made on these proposals.
“We value our staff, and we will continue to listen to their views throughout this process.”