By Bill Heaney
It would appear that the political gloves are off at last and that the SNP group on West Dunbartonshire Council are prepared to come out fighting in public.
They have emerged from the yellow corner and stepped into the debate on Labour’s calamitous ‘Fire and Rehire’ decision in West Dunbartonshire.
Their press release states: “The SNP Group is deeply concerned about Labour-run West Dunbartonshire Council using the disgraceful tactic of ‘Fire and Rehire’ against our hardworking employees.
“This aggressive and unfair practice pressures workers into accepting changes to their contracts under threat of dismissal.
“Worse still, it directly contradicts the Council’s own Fair Work First – Statement of Agreement, which claims to uphold fair employment practices.”
The SNP statement adds: “The SNP Scottish Government has consistently opposed ‘Fire and Rehire’, calling for it to be banned under the UK Government’s reserved employment law powers.
“Ironically, the Labour UK Government is now looking to severely restrict its use through their Employment Rights Bill.
“So why does Labour think it’s acceptable to threaten staff here in West Dunbartonshire? The hypocrisy stinks.
“Labour can no longer claim to be the party of workers while treating employees with such disregard.
“Although the Corporate Services Committee agreed to changes in public holidays, we firmly believed this was done in agreement with trade unions. At no point would we have sanctioned such a disgraceful attack on our workforce.
“As a Council, we should be leading by example – ensuring negotiations with employees and trade unions are conducted with dignity and respect. Instead, Labour has allowed unnecessary stress and anxiety to be inflicted on dedicated staff.
“While we welcome the decision to pause these proposed changes, the damage has already been done.
We have written to [Peter Hessett] the Chief Executive of West Dunbartonshire Council to call for:
A formal commitment that ‘Fire and Rehire’ will not be used in future negotiations. An apology to reassure workers that their concerns are taken seriously.“Our staff deserve better. The SNP will continue to stand up for fair treatment and hold the Labour administration to account on this issue.”
This statement shows that the SNP are prepared at last to speak out on important issues in The Dumbarton Democrat even though the bans and restrictions placed on reporting were introduced by their former leader, Cllr Jonathan McColl.
West Dunbarton Councellors 2017
Former SNP councillor Jonathan McColl, Community Party’s Drew MacEoghainn and Council chief executive Peter Hessett.
The Labour administration though are sticking with the SNP ban and appear to be unprepared to leave their position on speaking to our digital news platform.
Reaction to the SNP statement on fire and rehire include the following:
Drew MacEoghainn, of the Community Party, said: “The corporate services committee that voted this through consists of how many SNP members? Did you vote against these dreadful measures? If not did Labour mislead the committee? Or was a decision taken by your group which reeks of incompetency?
“It’s imperative that we have a decent competent opposition to this right wing cabal infesting the leadership of our council. Voting these horrendous decisions through without proper scrutiny lets everyone down.”
He added: “It seems that after the fact we now have disgust from the SNP councillors. We all deserve better!”
Top of page: Carers caught up in the fire and re-hire blunder protesting out side West Dunbartonshire Council’s headquarters.
The Council is a hot bed of efficiency, probity and outstanding delivery. Of that no one should be in any doubt.
Now it may be that some of the pay and conditions enjoyed by employees of the council might be considered very generous. Things like the council paying upwards of +18% into pensions whilst the UK average employer contribution is 4.4%, or six months full salary sick pay followed up by six months half pay, or generous holiday and public holiday entitlement which entitlement gets added to for years worked, or in fact for many a reasonable flexi time working less than forty hour week – but council workers deserve pay terms much better than others who do not work for the local authority.
And if workers are entitled to get double time plus time in lieu for working a bank holiday what absolute scum bag would suggest that this should be opened up to renegotiation. There are others like doctors, nurses, shops who are denied such benefits. And if the council has paid sick levels way in excess of industry then that will most probably be because of the stress and strain of working for the council.
So yes, there are issues in our super efficient councils that are sacred, and should be sacred. A race to the bottom is not a good thing. Not good for anyone. And so, as taxes rise, and as local council tax rates are set to rise by around maybe ten or eleven percent, let us be mindful that whilst many of the tax payers may not be on the same terms and conditions as council employees we should nevertheless get behind the increases. Conditions have to be paid for – and let us not have a bad word about efficiency.
All of that said, isn’t it grim how it tends to be the lowest paid who do some of the hardest lifting like providing care who get the hardest hit. Or more widely WASPI.
Or am I missing something?