Bath children’s social care managers strike over pay and grading

Children’s social care managers at Bath and North East Somerset Council are striking today (Thursday) after voting overwhelmingly to walk out in a dispute over pay and grading, says UNISON.

Team managers and deputy team managers at the local authority unanimously backed strike action following concerns about the council’s job regrading programme.

Those affected say the scheme was imposed without proper consultation and has left many on the wrong grade and being underpaid.

Workers rejected an offer in December following talks through the conciliation service Acas. They said the proposal lacked clarity and had no timescale on when any improvements would be implemented.

The union says the dispute comes at a time of wider upheaval in the department, following the council’s announcement in March to restructure children’s social care. UNISON says this has left staff facing further uncertainty over their roles.

UNISON branch secretary Toni Mayo said: “This is a clear and united message to the council from its staff. They will not accept being underpaid for the vital work they do supporting children and families.

“The regrading process has been deeply flawed from the start. People are leaving, workloads are growing and services are under strain. The council must act now and come up with an offer that includes fair job evaluations and ensures people are paid fairly and properly for their work.”