Wirral Council staff asked to consider leaving their jobs to help authority save £108m

Oct 13 2010 by Lorna Hughes, Heswall News

Wallasey town hall

WIRRAL Council’s bid to balance the books by asking workers to consider leaving their jobs has provoked a storm of protest.

As revealed on our website on Friday, just over 6,000 employees out of Wirral Council’s 11,700-strong workforce have been the chance to leave or work fewer hours in a bid to tackle a £108m budget deficit over the next four years.

Over 55s can request early voluntary retirement.

Staff were told the news in a series of briefings last week and letters from acting chief executive Jim Wilkie setting out the terms of severance packages have been delivered to their homes.

Council leader Jeff Green said making up the shortfall would mean delivering services in different ways and reducing costs – a change which would also lead to the council employing fewer people.

But Wirral TUC secretary Alec McFadden called the council’s actions “a disgrace”.

He has organised a public meeting which will take place on Thursday at Gale House, 4 St Anne St, Birkenhead, starting at 7.30pm.

Staff who choose to leave the council now will receive the equivalent of 2.2 weeks wages for every year worked.

They have been told the council believes this rate is not affordable in the long term and any future offers could be at a lower rate.

A spokesman said plans were in place to ensure that remaining staff would be reorganised in priority areas.

But unions have reacted with fury and warned vital services could be put at risk.

Cllr Green said: “Given the budget challenges we face I do not believe the current severance scheme is going to be affordable or sustainable going forward.

“However, I do not believe that it would be fair to the staff who have worked flat out for the people of Wirral to change the terms of the scheme without providing an opportunity to choose to leave under the current terms.

“I will, of course, do all I can to avoid compulsory redundancies in the future but this will depend on whether we can make enough savings now.”