Council staff in 'work to rule' over contracts

Published on Monday 16 March 2009 08:48

AROUND 150 Midlothian Council employees have started a "work to rule" protest over new contracts which they claim will lead to a cut in wages and poorer working conditions.

The employees also staged an "unofficial strike" outside the local authority's Dalkeith headquarters last week.

Following a meeting with senior council officials, shop stewards called on the employees to carry out a work to rule leaving no extra cover from 4pm-7.30am.

Mike Rush, Unison Midlothian's service and conditions officer, said the protest was the members' response to the latest contracts being offered by the council as part of its Modernising Midlothian equal pay scheme. Employees have been offered the chance to sign up to the new contracts, or be served with 12 weeks' notice.

A Midlothian Council spokesperson told employees: "The council has made an offer of employment based on the proposed contractual changes and asked you if you would like to voluntarily accept these changes."