Six-month job security pledge for council’s employees

CHESTERFIELD Borough Council has agreed not to make any compulsory redundancies for six months following a Unison campaign.

Council leader Tricia Gilby signed the Job Protection Agreement in recognition of the hard work staff have put in during the pandemic. The agreement is the first of its kind in the East Midlands.

The Protect Our Jobs campaign from Unison is urging various councils, as well as organisations like the NHS, to follow suit and offer a window of job security for the frontline workers who have continued working through the pandemic.

Since the beginning of the virus outbreak, borough council employees have been redeployed and moved around between various roles and departments that have seen an increase in demand.

Cllr Gilby hopes the agreement will offer staff peace of mind that they will not be without work in the near future.

She said: “We know that these are challenging times for many, and people are worried about their health and that of their families.

“They shouldn’t have to worry about job security too, and we’re backing this agreement in a strong show of support and thanks to our staff.”

Unison is hoping that other local councils follow suit and sign as well.

General Secretary Christina McAnea, said: “During Covid-19, staff have kept working on the front line to keep essential services running to protect our community.

“I’m extremely proud that Chesterfield Borough Council has recognised the sacrifices made by those staff and has worked with us to offer them job protection in these uncertain times.”