Brighton and Hove apprentices used as 'cheap labour', union claims

A union activist is claiming Brighton and Hove City Council is using apprentices as “cheap labour” to replace the scores of staff it is laying off to cut costs.

The council has already created 70 posts, and has pledged to create 500 by 2012, to help young people learn new skills.

But Andy Richards of Unison says he has been told by a council manager the youngsters are being used to plug the gaps left by the departure of “too-expensive” staff.

On Thursday, the council’s ruling Tory adminstration voted through cuts which will see more than 100 jobs lost in a bid to help bridge a funding gap of almost £8m.

On his blog, Mr Richards says: “As a trade union rep it falls to me to be consulted on management proposals for the restructuring of services and departments, and I received a briefing on just such a restructure last Thursday.

“I was presented with a paper which showed quite clearly the cutting of posts alongside the increasing of the number of apprenticeships.

“Now, I could of course have misunderstood what the paper appeared to be suggesting, but the manager concerned was very helpful and quite happy to spell out the message: ‘We’re cutting too-expensive full-time permanent posts and covering the work with apprentices’.”

The News asked the council whether apprentices were being used to replace staff made redundant. A spokeswoman responded: “The council expects to create 40 apprenticeship places during the financial year 2010/11.  These are junior roles and will offer on the job training to young people who are out of work. Senior job functions will not be undertaken by apprentices.

“As part of the council’s drive for more efficient and cost effective delivery of services, a number of vacant jobs within the finance function have not been filled and those where the work is diminishing will be deleted.”