At a meeting of Cheshire East Council’s Corporate Policy Committee held on Thursday December 2, councillors debated recommendations relating to a Fire and Rehire motion moved by Councillor Laura Smith (Lab, Crewe South) and seconded by Councillor Connor Naismith (Lab, Crewe West).

A written statement was read out on behalf of Councillor Smith, who was unable to attend due to work commitments. Her statement called upon the council to sign up to the TUC charter: a new deal for working people and amend its procurement policies “to ensure that both current and future contractors are not able to use the practice of fire and rehire.”

Building on these points while speaking at the meeting, Councillor Naismith raised the alarming claim that a care company currently commissioned by Cheshire East is attempting to impose the removal of contractual enhancements including occupational sick pay, increased annual leave and bank holiday entitlements.

“Unison,” added Naismith, “say the company is threatening to dismiss and re-engage staff who refuse to sign that new contract.”

Councillor Naismith went on to ask for three questions to be added to the council’s social value assessment of contracts. These were:

• Have you or any of your subsidiary companies ever used or threatened to use dismissal and re-engagement to alter the terms and conditions of your workforce?
• Do you recognise and collectively bargain with trade unions?
• Do you pay the Foundational Living Wage as a minimum starting salary?

Councillor Anthony Critchley also attended and spoke in support of the proposals, calling for all councillors to work on a cross-party basis to deliver a better working environment for Cheshire East residents.

Councillor Nick Mannion (Lab), who sits on the committee proposed an amendment which would have committed the council to explore these changes subject to a further report back from officers to a future committee.

However, despite all Labour members and the one Liberal Democrat councillor voting for the amendment, it was ultimately defeated by Conservative and Independent votes against and abstentions.

Councillor Connor Naismith said: “It’s obviously disappointing that Conservative and Independent members were unable to support these sensible steps we were proposing today on procurement. The result is that we will remain unable to give an advantage to good employers when we are giving out contracts to deliver services, and that is to the detriment of many residents who will go on to work for those companies. This puts the choice facing residents at future elections in clear focus: if you want a council that stands up for working people, vote Labour.”

Councillor Laura Smith said: “I am shocked at some of the comments about trade unionism made by Conservative and Independent members in this meeting. It is clearer than ever that what we desperately need is a larger representation of working-class people in public life, people who don’t just have experience of being a manager or shareholder, but who have actually worked on the shop floor and spent time organising for better terms and conditions for them and their families.”

You can listen to the debate at: https://moderngov.cheshireeast.gov.uk/ecminutes/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=959&MId=8662&Ver=4