Union vows to oppose any job cuts under devolution deal for North Yorkshire and York

Unison is calling on political leaders to make a "jobs first" agreement on the fast-approaching reorganisation of local government which could threaten redundancies with the abolishment of the region's seven district councils.

One or two new unitary authorities will come in place of the current council system, and union officials say the rearrangements must protect jobs, level-up pay and minimise disruption to services.

Wendy Nichols, regional convenor at Unison, said: “Our members are busy delivering essential public services and supporting the response to the covid-19 emergency. Local government reorganisation is the last thing that they need now.

“However, we are pragmatic and we recognise that the government’s intentions are clear.

“They want a unitary system of local government from April 2022 and our focus across all our local government branches in North Yorkshire will be to secure the best outcome for our members and the communities they serve.”

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Unison represents thousands of local government workers at county, district and city councils in the region, and local branches recently met to discuss their priorities.

While it has not been confirmed if any jobs will be lost, political leaders are promising multi-million pound savings and service efficiencies, which has prompted union officials to urge workers to register a membership.

"Now, more than ever, I urge all local government workers in North Yorkshire to join a trade union", Ms Nichols said.

It was previously claimed by a number of county councillors that up to 3,000 public jobs could be lost in Northallerton under one set of devolution plans to split North Yorkshire into two new east/west council areas.

The councillors claimed the cuts would lead to "an economic catastrophe", but Mark Robson, leader of Hambleton District Council, hit back and accused them of peddling "propaganda and shameless scaremongering".

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The political leaders are arguing over the merits of having one single unitary authority covering North Yorkshire or two bodies either side of the A1 as part of the proposed local government shake-up.

Central government says the current two-tier system of district councils must end if the county is to get the benefits of devolution, which could include £2.4bn in investments and metro mayor like in Greater Manchester.

Council leaders have until the end of this month to submit final proposals to government before top-level discussions begin.

By Jacob Webster, Local Democracy Reporter