Council faces strike threat over cuts

At mass meetings, members of the union Unison rejected North East Lincolnshire Council’s latest offer, with a 93 per cent vote in favour of action.

The council, which has to save £30m over four years, wants to cut back generous annual leave entitlements. It also proposes cutting mileage allowances. Re-deployed staff would only have their salaries protected for one year rather than three. It is also looking at separate plans to introduce car parking charges from September, equivalent to one per cent of workers’ salaries.

Assistant branch secretary Dave Tomlinson said the terms and conditions had been “fought hard for many years by our parents and grandparents”. He added: “If we lose them now the chances are relatively slim, if not non existent, of getting them back.”

North East Lincolnshire Council was not able to comment. The two sides are due to meet again next Wednesday.