Staff anger over city's pay freeze

NOTTINGHAM City Council employees could strike after majority supported industrial action in a recent ballot by the GMB trade union.

Union members are angry over plans to freeze pay for two years from April.

Other reductions include reducing redundancy pay from 2.5 times the statutory amount to 1.5 times. Staff also face a three per cent increase in their pension contribution over a three-year period.

The council says the changes will help save �4 million in 2011-12 and protect 165 jobs.

The GMB says it will now consult with its fellow trade unions to see what action it should take. Under legislation, there would have to be a full independent postal ballot in order to strike.

Chris Needham, of GMB, has called on the council to have "meaningful discussions" to find a solution.

Mr Needham said staff felt upset and angry.

But city council chief executive Jane Todd said: "The Government is reducing our budget by a third, but we are determined to limit the number of people we have to make compulsorily redundant."

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