A formal strike ballot involving workers at six Barnsley nurseries begins today, Monday 5 October. The dispute centres on pensions and plans to transfer the nurseries to private provider Limetree.
The affected sites are in Athersley, Wombwell, Worsbrough, Grimethorpe, Penistone and Thurnscoe.
The GMB union has raised concerns over staff losing access to their existing Local Government Pension Scheme arrangements following the proposed transfer.
Barnsley Council says its aim is to protect nursery places and jobs, and to ensure the services remain sustainable for families. The council says legal advice found staff would not be eligible to remain in the Local Government Pension Scheme following the transfer.
The council adds that staff would keep the benefits they have already built up in the scheme, and that the preferred provider is proposing a pension arrangement above the basic statutory minimum.
This is a ballot on potential strike action. No strike dates have yet been announced.
Source information
Source: GMB, Barnsley Council