For gardeners employed by Redditch Council in Worcestershire, summer was a time of heavy workload, with the Council also having to bring in contractors, while winter meant long hours with relatively little to do.

The Council determined to bring in annualised hours to utilise time more effectively and cut costs. The gardeners’ union, UNISON, were keen to avoid the service being privatised and the management wanted to involve the union to find a solution which was mutually acceptable.

Subsequent negotiations resulted in:

• a four-day week in winter with no loss of earnings
• longer hours in summer but with virtually no contractors
• savings from contractors budget used to create more jobs
• the new system being introduced in winter so the men got days off in advance
• overtime and allowances were consolidated to ensure no loss of earnings over the 52-week year.

The benefits are:

For the Council – greater cover with time used more effectively and keeping grounds maintenance in-house, not contracted-out, resulting in job security

For staff – “The men were up in arms at the start. But being honest, if you tried to take it off them now they'd commit murder. Most have got small children and enjoy having time off over the Christmas holiday to spend with their family.”
Mark Piscapore-Carruana, gardener and UNISON Branch Secretary