Wolverhampton City Council staff facing pay cuts up to £6,000
Around 30 council staff who look after youngsters with behaviour problems in Wolverhampton are facing pay cuts of up to £6,000 a year.
Staff in the Early Years 5-18 service are being asked to drop a pay grade.
But sources say eight more management staff are being hired at a cost of up to £38,000 each. They called the move 'disgraceful' and said there was bitter resentment at the changes.
It comes as Wolverhampton City Council looks to save £134 million by 2019.
In total around £1m is being cut from the council's children and young people service. Bosses said they were working 'creatively' to avoid making any redundancies.
The Early Years 5-18 service of around 50 staff is split into eight teams across the city, each with a boss reportedly earning £50,000.
The eight new operational managers will work below them, with roles being advertised internally for up to £38,000.
A support advisor who has worked there for five years, and who is being asked to go down a pay grade of around £6,000, said they were devastated by the changes.
"This is an absolute disgrace," the employee said. "And conveniently enough it's happening straight after the election.
"The council is constantly moaning about Government cuts yet they're happy to employ these operational managers while we take a pay cut.
"To have this arrogance and hire this people, I'm absolutely amazed. How has this been approved and allowed?"
The service looks after youngsters with behaviour problems in local authority schools. But with a number of schools moving out of local authority control the service has decreased of late.
The employee added: "I understand the service needs to be restricted but this is the wrong way to do it.
"I'd make that sacrifice when it's such an important service, but I don't like this way this is being done."
Staff have had consultation meetings and unions have been informed of the proposed changes.
Council spokesman Tim Clark said: "As part of the council's savings challenge, we have targeted £1m worth of savings proposals within the Children and Young People service area.
"Part of this involves a restructure, for which we are in the employee consultation phase.
"Some of the roles within the team have been re-graded based on new job descriptions and some employees may regrettably lose out on pay.
"However, we are working creatively to avoid cutting jobs altogether, whilst providing the best service possible under the financial challenges we currently face.
"The recruitment of eight locality operational managers is being funded by external grant money and they will be on two-year fixed-term contracts while we embed phase two of the national Troubled Families programme."