How to make progress on the Council strikes
1st July 2011
Alan was interviewed by BBC Radio Solent about his thoughts on the industrial dispute and what local MPs can do while the dispute continues. Alan has been pressing for the Conservative-run City Council to have talks with the unions at the earliest possible opportunity. The quicker we have talks, the quicker we can have a fair deal for the public and staff.
The BBC's Steve Harris interviewed Alan on the BBC Radio Solent Breakfast show. Here's a quick summary of the main points raised:
On how the dispute started...
"The dispute starts from the question on where the Council’s finances are going. The path that the Council chose was to decide that everyone they were employing would be dismissed and would have to sign up to new contracts with new terms and conditions and with a wage cut. Understandably, I’d imagine, many people have taken great exception to that. So I think the starting point on how to make those changes wasn’t correctly judged. That’s how we’ve got into the situation we’re in today."
On whether Alan “backs” the Conservative Council leaders or the unions in the dispute:
"I don’t think it’s a question of backing either side in this, it’s a question of how the Council can properly organise the future of its services and how its finances work and get everybody back to work. What I think is absolutely necessary is to get back to the negotiating table. There have been some discussions, but they’ve started effectively with a gun still to the head of people who’ve been looking at wage cuts and different terms and conditions- and not a level playing field as negotiations are concerned. So that’s the essential first point- those notices of dismissal need to be withdrawn."
On whether it’s time MPs or the government to step in to resolve the dispute:
"I think it’s really time we got a grip of this. That means saying to both sides- you absolutely have to get round the table. As far as the workforce is concerned, there has to be a recognition that there are very difficult financial circumstances for the city and a solution needs to be found for the city’s financial problems. Sitting round the table can go forward if those dismissal notices are withdrawn- that’s the starting point. I'd certainly call on the City Council leadership to put that on the table. Of course that will mean some hard decisions about jobs and services for the future, but if those are set down and talked about, then we can make progress."
Other Councils haven't taken the approach Southampton has taken. Is it right for Southampton to take a more innovative approach?
"You could say it’s an innovative solution, but it’s also a very confrontational and reckless proposal. Because instead of saying 'how can we configure our services on the basis of sitting round a table and deciding how to do that,' there’s an initial gun to the head saying 'you sign up by 11th July or you’re all sacked.' That doesn’t seem to me a good starting point for discussions. As you say, other Councils have not taken this route. They’re also in financial difficulties and they also have to take tough decisions, but they’ve decided to deal with their staff differently."
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