City Council Bully School Employees to Impose 5 Term Year

(Updated 07/03/12)

On 17th February Nottingham City Council wrote to all the trade unions representing school employees. The letter is an undisguised threat.  Accept the 5 Term Year or we will dismiss you.  You can read the letter in full here.

A total of 4237 employees would be at risk of dismissal if they refused to sign a new contract in line with the 5 term Year.

The letter contains the following:

‘It is our aim to work with the Trade Unions to implement the change to school terms and holiday patterns by collective agreement. However, in the event that the Council fail to reach collective agreement, they will need to then consider their approach to individual agreement to vary. In addition, we will also need to consider our approach with those employees who do not voluntarily agree to vary their contract, this could potential mean they will be selected for dismissal and offered re-employment on the revised terms and conditions. If all Trade Unions agree to reach collective agreement on the change to terms and conditions as a result of the change in school terms and holidays, the need for consideration of dismissal and re-employment would be avoided. The consultation process provides for an opportunity in this regard.’

In other words they are only interested in consultation that leads to implementation of the 5 Term Year.  Not consultation leading to retaining a 6 half term pattern. If they can’t get their way they will dismiss anyone who refuses to vary their contract. They also intend to provide no redundancy settlement for those who cannot agree to such a variation, however long they have worked for the City.

‘If dismissal and re-employment became necessary (i.e. for employees who do not agree to vary) the fair reason for dismissal will be for ‘Some Other Substantial Reason’ and not redundancy. For this reason, no redundancy payment would be payable.’

This can only be described as employer bullying. Trade unions were founded to resist such bullies and we will.

We had hoped that the consultation running from 30th January to 18th May 2012 was a genuine one. What is clear now clear is that the City Council are hell bent on forcing through this ill-conceived plan.

The NUT has referred the City Council document to our legal advisers.

5 Term Strike Ballot Result

88.4% in favour of Strike Action.

We remain committed to resolving this dispute through negotiation but the union will decide if and when it is appropriate to take any strike action. If that becomes necessary, any pay deductions will be refunded by the Union.

Please be alert to further information from us in the coming days. We will send emails linking to further news.