Council says fire-and-rehire option is 'last resort'

A council has said it would only "fire-and-rehire" all of its staff as a last resort.

It comes after the GMB Union called an email sent by Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole (BCP) Council to all its staff members, which included the proposal, "scrooge-like" and an attempt to "bully" staff.

The council said it has been unable to reach an agreement with the union over a new pay structure.

It added several options, which would allow the council to progress with its new pay structure without an agreement, would be considered by its cabinet at a meeting on 10 December.

According to the GMB Union, BCP Council's "written threat to staff" informed all 5,000 workers, they could be fired and then reengaged on new terms, a practice commonly known as fire-and-rehire.

GMB said members who work for the council had then reached out to the union over fears they could lose their jobs.

The union said the email came after its members expressed worries the council may have wasted millions of pounds on a new job evaluation scheme.

Nick Day, GMB senior organiser, said: “It is appalling that on the verge of Christmas a public sector employer has dropped this email into the inboxes of its hard-working staff, threatening them all with the sack."

He said BCP Council's staff will now have Christmases "full of worry and concern for their jobs, all because they are continuing to raise legitimate concerns about working practices”.

Graham Farrant, chief executive at BCP Council, said it had been working on the new pay structure for all staff for the last five years.

He said they aim "to address the ongoing pay inequalities" in the organisation with a "fair and consistent pay structure".

He said Unison had indicated it was ready to accept an offer but the GMB Union would not accept it.

“Under our collective bargaining arrangements, we cannot implement the offer without the support of both trade unions," Mr Farrant said.

He continued: “We have no plans to serve notice to colleagues before Christmas and we are simply ensuring that we have the right processes in place should we need them as a last resort.

“As a responsible council, we are firmly committed to reaching a negotiated agreement, but it is only right that we prepare plans should we not reach that position, even if we do not need to use them.

"The report to Cabinet on 10 December sets out the options that would allow the Council to progress with its proposed pay structure if we cannot reach a negotiated agreement."

Mr Farrant said the email was part of the council's commitment "to be open and transparent".

In October the government announced changes to measures in the Employment Rights Bill, which included effectively banning the fire-and-rehire practice.

These changes are not likely to take effect for two years, following a period of consultation.

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