Wiltshire Council social workers to be balloted for strike action
It follows industrial action by parking enforcement officers
Last updated 23rd Nov 2023
Social workers at Wiltshire Council are to be balloted for strike action, over an alleged controversial 'fire and rehire' plan.
Members of the GMB Union, who work in the Adult and Social Care and Children's Services department, are said to be 'furious'.
It's proposed that a 20% contractual uplift in their wages for working evenings, nights, early mornings and weekends is removed from their employment terms.
It follows 11 days of industrial action by Wiltshire Council parking enforcement officers since March 2022, in the same row.
Andy Newman, GMB Branch Secretary said:
“GMB are proceeding to conduct a formal industrial action ballot of the overwhelming majority of the out-of-hours social workers in Wiltshire Council.
“Our members are furious not only with the proposed pay cut but that their employer is threatening to actually fire them to force this through.
“Social workers are caring professionals, and to be driven to strike action shows just how angry they are at how they have been treated.
“We have already had several days of strike action from traffic wardens, who are themselves facing a 10% pay cut and these social workers are now joining what is already one of the longest campaigns of industrial action that GMB have conducted.
“It beggars belief that highly skilled social workers, who are already very hard to recruit and retain, are facing pay cuts of between roughly £400 and £650 per month.
“This is a huge gamble by the council management, and there is no guarantee that they would even be able to provide these vital services if they go ahead with dismissing these staff.”
Greatest Hits Radio has contacted Wiltshire Council for a comment.