Social workers preparing to strike for three days over pay gradings

Social workers in Bath and North East Somerset are set to strike for three days next week.

The official picket outside Keynsham Civic Centre in January | Photo © Unison B&NES

Team managers and deputy team managers in the council’s children’s services department are set to take industrial action from 20th May to 22nd May over changes to pay gradings which put them on the same grade as some of the staff they manage.

Affected staff represented by trade union Unison previously went on strike for a “day of action” in March.

Unison South West regional secretary Tim Roberts said: “This strike action shows the depth of feeling among staff over the council’s failure to resolve concerns about pay and grading.

“Children’s social care managers do highly skilled and demanding work supporting vulnerable children and families. They shouldn’t have to fight to be paid fairly.

“The council must now come back with a clear and credible offer that properly addresses staff concerns and helps prevent further disruption to services.”

A spokesperson for Bath & North East Somerset Council said: “Following a day of industrial action on 19th March, team managers and deputy team managers in the council’s children’s services team have informed us, through UNISON, that they plan to take further strike action on 20th, 21st, and 22nd May. This is related to pay and grading.

“The council remains committed to continuing constructive discussions with staff and UNISON. During any industrial action, we will ensure continuity of service for the children, young people and families in Bath and North East Somerset.”

When Unison balloted the affected staff in January and February, 100% backed strike action on a 94% turnout.

Original plans for an 11-day strike were suspended after a council offer, but industrial relations between the council and staff working in its children’s social care department remain at a low point.

At the same time as the pay dispute, plans for a controversial restructure of the teams in the department, which would lead to five redundancies and require many other social workers to change roles, led to Unison holding large protests outside council meetings.

Twice, council meetings in Bath’s Guildhall have been disrupted by the sound of protesting social workers outside.

The two sides in the dispute engaged with each other through the advisory, conciliation, and arbitration service (Acas), although the Local Democracy Reporting Service understands this has not happened since February.

John Wimperis, Local Democracy Reporter