‘I can’t pay my mortgage, bills or rent’: Council officers fear job cuts
A council officer who has worked for a council for more than ten years has said she will not be able to pay her mortgage, bills or rent if she loses her job in a proposed restructure.
Staff from Croydon council’s housing department have warned against increasing pressures on services amid a dispute over a “chaotic” restructure.
Frontline roles, including those in the homelessness services and payroll, are being merged and redundancies are expected.
One Croydon council officer, aged 50, who lives in Lambeth and did not want to be identified over fears of losing their job, said: “We’re all anxious, everyone is scared to lose their jobs.
“There is a rising pressure on services and us providing a decent service. It’s difficult, there are people in B&B’s but we have no money or affordable housing – we aren’t helping people.”
Council officers have said they already hold caseloads of up to 150 people each as plans are in motion to further reduce staffing.
GMB union is calling on Croydon council to reconsider the restructure of the housing department and work with managers.
The 50-year-old council worker said: “There has been a blanket cover of silence from the council, it’s like dealing with a brick wall.
“If I lose this job I won’t be able to pay my bills, mortgage or rent. People say there are other jobs out there but it’s so hard to find one.”
In June, GMB said the council was considering removing 26 posts from the department – equivalent to 18 redundancies.
GMB organiser, Helen O’Connor, said that the restructure could put residents at risk and “cost lives”.
She said: “The service may well be left with too few frontline staff to meet the housing needs of the vulnerable residents in the borough.
“The council seems to expect a shrinking pool of officers to do a lot more with a lot less.”
GMB said that members have requested the council to conduct workload and staffing assessments – but so far there has been no attempt to do so.
The council worker said: “I’m angry and disgusted, I’m not saying there shouldn’t be a restructure because we need better services but it’s the manner it was done.
“I just want the council to be fair and open.”
Croydon council has been approached for comment.
Pictured top: Bernard Weatherill House, Croydon council’s offices, in Fell Road (Picture: Tara O’Connor)
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