Council workers must be protected from job cuts, with services and democracy preserved in any plans to overhaul local government, says UNISON today (Thursday).
Ministers are planning an extensive revamp of local authorities across England. This will move a step closer tomorrow, which is the deadline for six regions to submit their voluntary proposals to ditch two-tier councils in favour of new unitary bodies.
Proposals affecting the east midlands, west midlands, south east, south west, north west and eastern England could pave the way for the abolition of many district councils entirely, says UNISON.
The government has proposed that most areas of England will switch to unitary councils to provide local services, including social care, housing, waste collections and planning.
Separately, ministers also want to devolve powers to new combined authorities led by directly elected mayors, similar to current arrangements for Greater Manchester and Merseyside.
But the abolition of lower-tier district councils (that usually operate beneath county-wide authorities, providing different services) puts thousands of local government jobs at risk, says UNISON.
The union says ministers’ plans will also leave workers vulnerable as their pay deals could be in jeopardy if they work for new authorities, because they may need to be transferred or reemployed on different contracts.
Democracy could be undermined by the reforms with decisions about neighbourhood-level services and staff handed to larger councils or mayors covering bigger geographic areas, the union warns.
UNISON says ministers must ensure no compulsory redundancies are made as a result of the reorganisation.
Wages, pensions and benefits, such as sick pay and leave, must also be protected when workers are transferred to the new authorities, the union says. Current arrangements that allow unions to negotiate centrally with a national body over pay should be preserved too.
No community will want to see their services reduced so these have to be preserved after the transition, the union adds.
UNISON general secretary Christina McAnea said:
“Local government reorganisation cannot be used as a convenient cover for job cuts.
“Thousands of council roles are at risk under these wide-ranging proposals. Local authorities are under severe financial strain following years of austerity.
“But communities mustn’t lose the expertise that ensures authorities can support their residents.
“It would be a travesty if crucial public services are shut down, outsourced or sold off in pursuit of further savings across a sector that’s already suffered savage cuts for many years.
“Councils are long overdue a multi-year funding settlement that stabilises local services, ensures residents can access the support they deserve and protects staff. A fair pay deal, including for care workers, must be part of the solution.”
Notes to editors:
– UNISON is the UK’s largest union, with more than 1.3 million members providing public services in education, local government, the NHS, police service and energy. They are employed in the public, voluntary and private sectors.
– Research published by UNISON in 2024 revealed a £4bn funding gap in local government services, leaving many councils facing financial trouble.
Media contacts:
Anthony Barnes M: 07834 864794 E: a.barnes@unison.co.uk
Mark Conrad M: 07809 623703 E: m.conrad@unison.co.uk
The article Local government reform can’t be used as cover for job cuts, says UNISON first appeared on the UNISON National site.
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