The BBC reports on the brutal approach of Shropshire Council to its own employees. Occasionally, I get asked why Brent Council doesn't do something similar to its workforce. Surprisingly, this suggestion doesn't always come from rightwingers. In fact most of the people suggesting pay cuts for Council employees to me would probably consider themselves to be on the left.
It is worth enumerating the reasons why Brent has not gone down this route.
Firstly, staff are already suffering from a pay freeze and an increased workload. Like everyone else they face a rising cost of living, so the idea that Council staff are getting off lightly is wrong.
Secondly, the kind of confrontational approach you see in Shropshire risks both industrial action and serious demoralisation. The demoralisation of Council staff would probably be more damaging in the long term. Councils are primarily service deliverers, and they are dependent on motivated staff to deliver those services. Staff who are bullied and told that that they are not valued are unlikely to feel motivated.
I have even been told that specific individuals should have their pay cut. Aside from the legal obstacles to that kind of victimisation, I am aghast at its sheer nastiness.
2 comments:
When people talk about a pay cut I don't think they are referring to the lowly paid workers of Brent Council (who mostly do a good job) but the high paid officers, including the chief executive and other high earners and the numersous consultants Brent continues to employ.
Brent Council employees are already demoralised from what I've seen from my recent visits to Kingsbury Library.
It's one thing not to cut people's pay, but in the library service some have had their pay increased. What's the justification in that? Especially when they cannot manage simple things.
Post a Comment