Press Release - 10.02.10

GMB’S REACTION TO BIRMINGHAM CITY COUNCIL’S ANNOUCEMENT TODAY TO CUT 2000 JOBS.
10 February 2010

Birmingham City Council announcement to axe 2000 jobs today is devastating for the city, as it plans to make savings of up to £69m by April 2011.

The GMB are very concerned that Birmingham City Council has now chose to do it’s negotiating through the media. There have been no discussions concerning pay freezes linked to the previously announced redundancies.

The proposed redundancies are affecting staff in frontline services, which will have a devastating affect on the people of Birmingham. Although the council has stated that no social workers or teachers will be affected, a senior source within the council has leaked a document to the GMB which states that social work staff over 64 years of age will be receiving a 3 months notice of enforced retirement. The GMB has serious concerns of the loss of the most experienced staff in this area and also the implications concerning age discrimination.

Birmingham City Council and GMB started its 90 day consultation period on all proposals which is expected to conclude around the end of March. The first of the consultation meetings was held on the 4Feb 09. GMB will be consulting with its members and will be urging BCC to re-consider and find an alternative. We will do everything we can to reduce the number of employees that will be affected, to try and reduce the impact on these services.

Roger Jenkins, GMB Birmingham & West Midlands Region Officer said, “We have concerns that this is purely a political decision by Birmingham City council, by culling their staff and destroying frontline services in order to keep council tax payment down in the run up to an election. The GMB will not stand by and watch our members suffer by being forced in to unemployment and having their pay frozen in order to keep their current administration in power”

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Contact: Roger Jenkins, GMB Regional Organiser on 07957 265302 or Tony Hughes, GMB Birmingham Branch Secretary for Children, Young People and Families 07833 059272, Samantha Jones, GMB Press Officer on 0121 550 4888.

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