Croydon council staff ballot for strike over ‘potentially discriminatory restructure’

Staff in Croydon council’s payroll department are being balloted for strike action against a “potentially discriminatory restructure”.

The ballot comes after the authority proposed a departmental restructure in which a quarter of jobs are at risk of being lost.  

The GMB union, which has organised the ballot, said it was concerned that not all staff were included in the restructure – those affected are overwhelmingly women from black and minority ethnic backgrounds. 

The council has refuted this claim.

The union also claims grievances raised by its members have been ignored and say staff have made a number of counter-proposals to save money and protect jobs.

They have also submitted numerous grievances which have not been acknowledged by HR, claims the GMB.

The ballot opens on Monday of next week and is due to close on April 3.  

Rachael Baylis, GMB organising assistant, said:  “The current situation at Croydon council is not the fault of those who are now being faced with job losses and increased workload, it is down to financial mismanagement and severe cuts to local authority funding.  

“The GMB opposes these potentially discriminatory restructure plans and wants to work with the council to find a solution that does not lead to yet another round of redundancies and increased workloads for remaining staff.  

“Our members deserve so much better than what we are seeing – they just want to be treated fairly. 

“Croydon needs to sit down with us and take workers’ counter proposals seriously. If they don’t get round the table with us, then we will see them on the picket line.  

“The GMB calls on Mayor Jason Perry to lobby the Government to fund Croydon fairly and avoid the disastrous programme of cuts that lie ahead.  

“Employees and residents should not pay for Croydon’s disastrous financial position.”  

A spokesperson from Croydon council said: “The council needs to make difficult but necessary decisions to address its financial challenges and to become smaller, more efficient and financially sustainable for the future.

“The council has been consulting with payroll employees on proposals to restructure the team.

“All feedback from affected employees has been fully considered and the council will continue to update affected employees on the progress of the consultation.”

Pictured Top: Bernard Weatherill House, Croydon council offices, Fell Road. (Picture: Tara O’Connor. Free for use by BBC wire partners)