Children’s social care workers at Bath and North East Somerset Council are set to vote for strike action following controversial changes to their pay structure that have left staff morale “shot to bits.”
Team managers and deputy team managers in children’s social care recently received ballot papers to decide on industrial action after being placed on the same pay grade as some staff they supervise. This official ballot follows an earlier indicative ballot that showed unanimous support for strike action on a full turnout.
UNISON branch chair Amy Rushton criticized the council for underpaying children’s social care managers compared to other authorities, highlighting a problematic pay bottleneck where front-line staff and their managers are graded equally. “They have got this wrong but are refusing to put it right. The longer this goes on, the more staff we are going to lose,” Rushton warned.
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UNISON branch secretary Toni Mayo echoed concerns about unsafe workloads and mass departures. “It’s utter chaos, and members are angry both about what the council are doing and how it’s being done,” she said, stressing the growing crisis within the department.
The ballot closes on February 4, with results expected shortly after. A UNISON spokesperson noted rapid ballot returns indicate strong member engagement.
These disputes trace back to the council’s 2025 ‘Being Our Best’ (BOB) pay regrading programme. Mayo highlighted that BOB was introduced unilaterally despite being rejected in a consultative ballot and without worker input on role definitions. Communication around the programme has been poor, with many appeals upheld, revealing widespread dissatisfaction.
“Morale is shot to bits,” Mayo added. “In children’s social care, resolutions may face nearly a year’s wait. Meanwhile, staff departures accelerate, workloads become unsafe, and chaos reigns.”
Responding, Bath and North East Somerset Council stated: “Changes to pay structures are complex and we have engaged extensively with unions and staff over a prolonged period. We value all staff and are actively working with UNISON and ACAS to address concerns in children’s services.”
Support for the forthcoming strike was visible during a “practice picket” outside Keynsham Civic Centre, attended by over 40 people including UNISON staff and local Labour councillors. Social worker Claire Luxton, 15 years with the council, expressed frustration: “We go above and beyond because we love this job, but the council is not supporting us.” David Wells, a team manager, added: “A workforce that relies on goodwill has quickly run out of it.”
Labour representatives at the picket emphasized the importance of fair pay for skilled social work roles. Councillor Dave Biddleston stressed: “Pay structures that fail to reflect real responsibilities harm morale, retention, and the safety and quality of services.”
The BOB programme, introduced amid protests, did raise pay for most council staff but reduced it for 106 roles. Although a pay protection policy froze incomes for three years to prevent immediate cuts, concerns persist about potential real-term losses and future pay slumps once the freeze ends. The acronym ‘BOB’ has also drawn criticism as “demeaning.”
As the strike ballot progresses, the council faces mounting pressure to resolve pay disparities and stem the exodus of vital social care staff.