This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/england/south_yorkshire/8363940.stm
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Dismissal threat over council pay | Dismissal threat over council pay |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| Thousands of council workers in Sheffield could have their contracts terminated after they failed to accept new terms and conditions. | Thousands of council workers in Sheffield could have their contracts terminated after they failed to accept new terms and conditions. |
| Letters were sent to 13,500 workers asking them to accept the new terms, which would mean pay rises for some but a pay cut for more than 2,000 staff. | Letters were sent to 13,500 workers asking them to accept the new terms, which would mean pay rises for some but a pay cut for more than 2,000 staff. |
| The council said it had received 8,700 signed agreements by lunchtime on Monday. The deadline was Monday night. | The council said it had received 8,700 signed agreements by lunchtime on Monday. The deadline was Monday night. |
| Contracts for the remaining staff will be terminated and new ones offered. | Contracts for the remaining staff will be terminated and new ones offered. |
| A council spokesman said despite the deadline it was still accepting signed agreements "and would continue to do so". | A council spokesman said despite the deadline it was still accepting signed agreements "and would continue to do so". |
| The new pay structure is due to be implemented in April. | The new pay structure is due to be implemented in April. |
| We believe that what is being offered to employees is fairer and more transparent than the current system John Mothersolecouncil chief executive | We believe that what is being offered to employees is fairer and more transparent than the current system John Mothersolecouncil chief executive |
| The council said it was required to review its pay structure in line with local authorities across the country. | The council said it was required to review its pay structure in line with local authorities across the country. |
| Street cleaners, gardeners and teaching support staff are among the workers who will see their wages drop as part of the review. | Street cleaners, gardeners and teaching support staff are among the workers who will see their wages drop as part of the review. |
| The council said more than 80% of staff would have the same or higher salary. | The council said more than 80% of staff would have the same or higher salary. |
| Kevin Osborne, from the Unison union, said: "This is just not an acceptable package. It never was an acceptable package." | Kevin Osborne, from the Unison union, said: "This is just not an acceptable package. It never was an acceptable package." |
| He said the union was consulting lawyers to see if it could pursue the council for unfair dismissal on behalf of members who have their contracts terminated. | |
| An "indicative ballot" of members is also taking place to establish which parts of the workforce were likely to be in favour of strike action. | |
| Workers 'fearful' | |
| Mr Osborne said members felt they were being forced into accepting the new terms after receiving a letter from the council's chief executive John Mothersole last week, reminding them of the deadline. | |
| Mr Osborne said: "[They are] fearful of course of what's been said in the letters by the council in terms of dismissal and re-engagement if you don't volunteer to sign." | Mr Osborne said: "[They are] fearful of course of what's been said in the letters by the council in terms of dismissal and re-engagement if you don't volunteer to sign." |
| But Mr Mothersole said: "To suggest that the council is bullying its employees is simply nonsense. | But Mr Mothersole said: "To suggest that the council is bullying its employees is simply nonsense. |
| "It is true that if colleagues choose not to accept their offer then we will have to terminate their contracts and re-engage with them. | "It is true that if colleagues choose not to accept their offer then we will have to terminate their contracts and re-engage with them. |
| "This has always been the case. Nobody will have to reapply for their job nor will they lose continuity of service. | "This has always been the case. Nobody will have to reapply for their job nor will they lose continuity of service. |
| "This is both standard practice and a legal requirement, to suggest that we are doing anything out of the ordinary and bullying colleagues is clearly untrue. | "This is both standard practice and a legal requirement, to suggest that we are doing anything out of the ordinary and bullying colleagues is clearly untrue. |
| "We believe that what is being offered to employees is fairer and more transparent than the current system." | "We believe that what is being offered to employees is fairer and more transparent than the current system." |