Doncaster Council workers balloted for strike action

Workers at Labour-controlled Doncaster Council are to be balloted for strike action over cuts to services and jobs.

Unison, the largest union at the council with 5,000 members, said job losses would hit services for "the most vulnerable people".

It claimed 700 jobs had been lost since Christmas, with about another 500 to be cut over the coming year.

The council said it was "inevitable" some of the cuts would "affect both staff and residents directly".

A spokesperson for Doncaster Council confirmed that it had to save £71m by 2015, and said "employees know we are in a difficult position".

Unison cites the loss of the warden service for elderly residents and the mooted closure of libraries and home care services as evidence cuts were negatively affecting the community.

Jim Board, Doncaster Unison branch secretary, said: "Doncaster Council's threat of further redundancies and attacks on the pay and conditions of thousands of mainly low-paid women workers will have a devastating effect on the front-line services our communities rely on."

The planned strikes are expected to coincide with proposed strike action by up to a million public sector workers across the country over pensions.