Pembrokeshire county members balloted on confidence in senior council officer

UNISON members in Pembrokeshire County branch are to be balloted for a vote of ‘no confidence’ in the council’s chief executive officer , Bryn Parry Jones. UNISON, alongside other trade unions, has take the decision to ballot members following news that pension pay supplements paid to the cheif executive are to be reinvestigated by Gloucester police force.

The joint unions believe that the senior officer is being treated favourably in comparison to how other members of staff would be treated in this situation.

“UNISON members are astonished that somebody entangled in this whole sorry saga has not been suspended whilst the investigation and now reinvestigation takes place,” said UNISON Pembrokeshire branch secretary Vic Dennis.

“If this happened to an ordinary worker their feet would not touch the ground.  They would be suspended to allow a full investigation to be carried out.

“Our members are saying ‘enough is enough’. There has been a catalogue of failures and concerns. The most recent BBC Week In Week Out programme highlighted further failings that took place whilst the chief executive was in charge.

“The chief executive has refused to repay and of the £45,000 pounds of pension payments he received directly to his bank account.  In the meantime, some of the lowest paid and hardest hit by the pay and grading review are suffering hardship whilst the appeals process drags on with no end in sight.

“The joint unions are now planning to demonstrate their anger at a lunchtime protest, similar to the action taken by employees of Caerphilly council which highlighted the failings of their chief executive.”