YOUR recent news item: 'Save £1m and you can leave earlier' was an Orwellian distortion of the facts. Here are the reasons:
1. It was a one-sided story from the councillor's perspective. Where was the trade union viewpoint?
2. Staff are not asking the council to REDUCE hours -- the council is insisting on INCREASING hours from 36.25 to 37. Trade unions have struggled to reduce working hours. This council is trying to reverse the tide of history in efforts to cut staff costs.
3. The council is in the process of terminating existing contracts of employment. That is why staff are being balloted for strike action by their unions. Over 1,000 attended a recent Robin Park mass meeting.
4. Increasing the hours of council employees under 'Single Status' is NOT a 'moral and contractual obligation' on local authorities.
5. Why is it that other local authorities have not taken the approach that Wigan have?
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