Strike threat by union as Cardiff council cuts hours

Staff will lose the equivalent of nearly seven days pay a year as a result of the changes, Unison said

Union members at Cardiff council are being balloted for strike action after a decision to reduce staff contracts by an hour a week.

Working hours will drop from 37 to 36 hours per week as part of cost-cutting measures at the authority.

The council has to find savings of £50m over the next year, with a further £92m in cuts to come within three years.

Unison said the council had rejected a plan which would have got them through the next 12 months.

Terms and conditions relating to overtime, night working and shift allowance will be protected until March 2015, according to the council.

However a council spokesman confirmed that any staff refusing to accept the new terms would be dismissed.

Three other unions, Unite, the GMB and UCATT have agreed to the proposals, which come into effect in August.

Unison branch secretary Spencer Pearson said: "It is not our members' fault that the council are in such a financial mess, yet it is them who are expected to pick up the bill for it.

"Unison presented a plan to the council in January of this year which would have got them through the next 12 months without impacting on our members pay, but they weren't prepared to listen."