Last-ditch talks avert Bradford council IT strike

Bradford council leaders have managed to persuade the authority's IT staff to postpone plans for strike action until February to allow more time for negotiations with trade union reps.

The council's 135 IT staff were balloted about strike action on Monday. Over 90 per cent (of the 80 per cent turnout) voted in favour, after attempts by Unison to secure the option of secondment for those employees who do not want to transfer to the private sector as part of a proposed £100m outsourcing deal appeared to have failed.

Gurjit Singh, chair of Unison, told silicon.com on Monday that the council would be given 24 hours to reach a compromise ahead of planned strikes that he said would bring the council "to its knees" by taking out key IT specialists, which would hit the operation of vital revenue and benefits IT systems.

But some common ground appears to have been found and after eleventh hour talks between the council and union leaders, industrial action has now been suspended until the end of February.

Councillor Simon Cooke, deputy leader of the council, said in a statement: "This will allow us to continue working with trade union representatives and bidders to find a solution that meets the needs of the people of the district but also addresses the genuine concerns of staff."

No one at Unison was immediately available for comment.