Right of appeal row at council

An internal dispute over employment rights is threatening to escalate after staff working for a London council claimed their right of appeal had been removed from their contracts without debate.

Employees at Barking and Dagenham Council claim that, as of this week, their right to appeal to councillors against disciplinary action or job grades has been removed after the council’s assembly nodded through the changes earlier this month.

Council managers said the removal of the right was an attempt to modernise HR procedures at the council and improve its annual performance score.

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Head of HR, Christine Shepherd, rejected the union claim that staff were not properly consulted over the changes.

“There has been extensive consultation with the council’s unions and the chief executive has met with them personally,” she said.