BUDGET-balancing proposals at County Hall to cut the working hours of around 150 council staff have been slammed as ‘outdated and cruel’, with one councillor claiming they threaten to ‘force workers into poverty’.
If given the green light, plans by Worcestershire County Council would cut the contracted hours of this group from 37 to 35 hours a week.
The authority has said it is currently in consultation with the affected staff, who they say make up less than six per cent of the workforce.
But Labour County Councillor Richard Udall has called for the process to be suspended and is seeking a full member review of the plans.
He has also urged the council to put the proposals through the overview and scrutiny committee first.
Coun Udall, who represents Worcester St John said the cuts would hit pay packets by around 5.4 per cent.
The county’s ‘reduction in hours scheme’ shown in 2024-25 budget papers show the authority expects to save £500,000 through the measure.
Coun Udall further claimed the staff had been told the proposal was now ‘baked in’ to the authority’s budget and it would be imposed after consultation with unions.
And he said if they failed to agree, the council had ‘refused to rule out using the fire and re-hire process.’
The practice of ‘fire and re-hire’ sees an employer aim to vary the terms and conditions of employment by dismissing the employee following a period of ‘meaningful consultation’.
The employer would then re-hire them by offering new and revised terms and conditions.
Coun Udall added: “For many, this will damage their pensions and will force them into poverty, some have already told me they will have to seek Universal Credit just to get by.
“This is not the way to treat hard-working loyal staff.”
A spokesperson for Worcestershire County Council, said: “We are currently in consultation with approximately 150 staff on the council’s reduced working hours strategy which was introduced in 2011.
“Officers leading the consultation have been in dialogue with the council’s recognised trade unions both prior and throughout the process and this is being done in accordance with the council’s policies.
“The Council remains committed to full and meaningful consultation and always aims to achieve agreement to any proposals it makes.”
