STAFF TREATED LIKE MUSHROOMS AT GRIMSBY

All employees of NELC (including those in community schools) have received a letter from the Chief Executive outlining proposals affecting their terms and conditions. Most read of these proposals in the Grimsby Evening Telegraph before receiving letters. In August 2010 the unions were informed informally of some of the proposals and on 9th of September received formal notification, requesting a response.


An initial response the proposals were submitted on 16th September 2010, making it clear that a full and proper response would not be possible until employees were made aware of the proposals and requesting further information, including identifying those groups of staff who would be directly affected so that the union could consult their members.


Amazingly, an email was received a little more than two hours after submitting the response informing the union that a letter was to be sent to all employees informing them of the proposals on the following day and that a press release would be available to media outlets the day after that.


Furthermore, the proposals outlined in the letter were at variance with the formal notification of changes provided to the unions. It is inconceivable that this letter could have taken account of the union’s comments as it included proposals that had not been communicated to the unions in the formal notice of 9 September 2010.


UNISON has written to the Chief Executive objecting to how this has been handled and requesting a meeting with him as a matter of urgency. Just another example of North East Lincolnshire Council’s draconian and insensitive handling of key issues relating to its staff.




Shareholders could benefit at the expense of Council staff - key services taken over by private firm!

Over 300 NELC staff, covering services including Highways, Security, Planning, Regeneration, and Building Control, TUPE transferred to Balfour Beatty Workplace (BBW) as of 1 July 2010. BBW immediately embarked on a restructure which, subject to outstanding appeals, has now been concluded resulting in circa17 redundancies. Contracts for most agency staff have also been terminated and many vacant posts have been deleted. How can the services be maintained and improved with fewer staff? Perhaps Paul Daniels is acting as consultant.


Whilst members of the Council’s Planning Committee have voiced concerns about the abysmal performance of the Planning Enforcement team, BBW has responded by ……………..wait for it………………yes, reducing the planning enforcement staff. It has made the Head of Planning Enforcement redundant, leaving the remaining staff to struggle under unbearable pressure.

No doubt the residents of North east Lincolnshire will be interested to see how the other privatised services will be managed by this private, Plc firm.


The Councillors of NELC appear to have given up and tied in its constituents with this 10 year contract.


Oh how sad!