Council’s extra four-day break to save cash

EXTRA break . . . Oldham Civic Centre

Oldham Council will shut for four extra days between Christmas and New Year to save money.

Staff will have to take annual leave, flexitime or even unpaid leave as the borough battles a £17 million budget shortfall.

Essential services will not be affected between Monday, December 29, and Monday January 5.

And unions say they support the idea — but only if managers can prove it will help to stem job losses.

Charlie Parker, chief executive, said: “Between Christmas and New Year is traditionally an extremely quiet time.

“There will be no impact on the wide range of frontline services that are regularly needed by residents such as the One Stop Shop and the waste and refuse service.”

Frontline staff such as carers for children and older people, highways, emergency response, unsafe building inspectors, and trading standards will also work.

Mr Parker added: “This decision has been made by the council after talking to the trade unions who support the reasons behind it.

“I am satisfied that this move will lead to a significant saving.

“It is important that residents understand that staff are not being given ‘free holidays’ and that this close down will involve individual staff using their own leave.

“This will help the council to avoid compulsory redundancies.”

Unison branch secretary Ann Mitchell, who represents 4,000 members in Oldham, said: “We need to have proof that it would save jobs. If it keeps people in jobs that is fine.

“If people don’t want to take holidays or haven’t got any leave left, they are looking for ways round that, working in another building or working from home.

“We want more details at the meeting with management on Wednesday.”

Mike Williamson, branch secretary for the GMB union, added: “We have to be pragmatic at the moment, and look at long term objectives.

“I am dealing with this in commercial companies at the moment and trying to keep companies alive and keep people in work.

“We are against the principal of moving people’s holidays, but we sometimes have to make one-off decisions to protect jobs.

“It is up to individuals to choose how to handle this.”

Tory leader, councillor Jack Hulme, added: “It makes sense. My main concern is that the trade unions had been told and the work force was largely happy.”

Labour leader Councillor Jim McMahon said: “It seems like a sensible solution and our agreement is subject to frontline and life and limb services continuing.”