DWP chief admits lack of consultation over job cuts

The
secretary of state for work and pensions has admitted there was no prior
consultation with the unions before the announcement of huge job losses in last
week’s Budget.

Andrew
Smith did not rule out some compulsory redundancies – but said he would try to
avoid them – adding that 9,000 of his department’s staff leave each year.

Unions
have reacted angrily to the news. Paul Noon, general secretary of the Prospect
union, said: "If a private sector employer behaved in this way and
announced 40,000 jobs losses without consultation there would be uproar."

Sign up to our weekly round-up of HR news and guidance

Receive the Personnel Today Direct e-newsletter every Wednesday

Email(Required)

OptOut

From time to time, we will send you emails about selected products, events and services from Personnel Today and OHW+ - but you can choose to opt-out at any time. If you do not wish to receive these emails, please tick this box.

Comments

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Δ

The
TUC warned that the proposed cuts could cause "a collapse of morale among
remaining staff… and could have a serious impact on the delivery of frontline
services."

By Mike Berry