A LABOUR chief at Warrington has admitted that morale among council workers is low – but says he believes it is beginning to improve.
Cllr Mike Hannon (right), deputy leader of the borough council, was responding to questions from senior opposition councillor Brian Axcell (left).
The Liberal Democrat ex-Mayor pointed out that during the previous administration, Cllr Hannon had often claimed that council staff morale was low.
He asked what measures Cllr Hannon had taken since May – when Labour gained control of the council – to improve morale.
Cllr Hannon said it was hardly surprising that morale low when the council had to find £23 million savings and there was talk of jobs cuts and a review of terms and conditions.
Labour had inherited a low morale from the previous administration.
But he had organised 9-10 roadshows, spoken to more than 1,000 employees and met individual groups.
He said it had gone against his union and Labour Party principles, and everything he had stood for since becoming a councillor to have to consider cuts in workers’ conditions, but it had to be done.
Labour had listened to the staff concerns and had made modifications.
“I think morale has started to grow a little bit,” he said.
After the meeting,Cllr Axcell accused Labour of having “wrecked” industrial relations at the council in just five months.
He said: “When we ran the council, Labour often claimed that staff morale was low. In fact, the good working relationships we built up with the unions were vital in protecting services and saving money. By working with staff and unions we were able to make millions of pounds of savings without jeopardising services to the public, or needing to make compulsory redundancies. We also successfully introduced equal pay and new staffing structures, both long overdue.
“Now Labour has thrown away all that good will after just five months in power. According to union leaders, industrial relations are at an all time low and ‘war has been delcared’.
“This very public falling out between Labour and the unions, and splits within the Labour group, mean that essential savings will not be made this year, putting future services and jobs at risk.”
Council morale low – but getting better
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Gary Skentelbery
Experienced journalist for more than 40 years. Managing Director of magazine publishing group with three in-house titles and on-line daily newspaper for Warrington. Experienced writer, photographer, PR consultant and media expert having written for local, regional and national newspapers. Specialties: PR, media, social networking, photographer, networking, advertising, sales, media crisis management. Chair of Warrington Healthwatch Director Warrington Chamber of Commerce Patron Tim Parry Johnathan Ball Foundation for Peace. Trustee Warrington Disability Partnership. Former Chairman of Warrington Town FC.
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This politicking at the expense of employees (people with families and lives to support!!!) is getting out of hand. I generally don’t take a view on party politics but facts are fact – it is clear this time round that the labour party are working with the budget that they were given so neither party are blame free. Yes, I suppose that they could have set a new budget but personally, I’m thankful that they didn’t as another round of budget reviewing exercises would mean day to day working life, people’s jobs and futures would continue to stay in limbo for who knows how long – and that is what is killing morale.
No negative changes to staff terms are going to be easy to accept but at least alternative suggestions are being considered!! Perhaps if Diana Terris was to set an example and show they she and her senior managers are going to be equally as affected to show that ‘we’re all in it together’ staff morale and respect might be restored.