The Unite trade union has said that RSPCA’s proposals to make up to a fifth of its workforce redundant are “excessive”.
The animal charity employs more than 1,600 people and intends to make up to 300 people redundant, stating that the Covid-19 pandemic has accelerated its need to restructure.
However, Unite has said that it will be “challenging” the charity on these plans and added that before any course of action is decided upon, the RSPCA must enter into a consultation with the union.
The charity has said it is fully committed to a full 45-day consultation with Unite, and that at this stage these changes are proposals.
Unite had been involved in a dispute with the charity over the last few months over the management of new contracts and a new pay and reward framework. It said staff voted by 73% for strike action and accused the charity’s management of a “bullying attitude”.
The RSPCA said that an agreement regarding the new contracts of employment was reached in March.
Unite: 'It must be done in a way that keeps redundancies to an absolute minimum'
Terry Abbott, Unite regional officer, said: “While the coronavirus and the subsequent economic disruption is undoubtedly putting financial pressure on many charities, these proposals are excessive and will be challenged by Unite.
“This is distressing news for our members at the RSPCA, and Unite will do its utmost to support them at this difficult time.
“Before any course of action is decided upon, the RSPCA must enter into a full consultation with Unite.
“Any potential restructuring must be done in a way that keeps redundancies to an absolute minimum and ensures the charity’s operational capacity.”
The charity had reduced its deficit from £20m to £12m ahead of the crisis, but is now predicting a deficit of £20 to £25m this year, rising to a potential £47m “black hole” over the next three years if action is not taken now.
Chris Sherwood, chief executive of the RSPCA said: “We know that this proposal is very difficult for our staff and it is not an announcement I want to be making, but these changes are urgent and essential if we are to protect our crucial services for the future.
“Although the severe financial impact of Covid-19 has hastened the need for this restructure, we have been reviewing our services as part of a new, 10-year strategy to make us financially sustainable and focus our services where we can be most effective. Before the crisis hit, we had made savings which did not touch people's jobs to reduce our deficit from £20m to £12m, but following the pandemic, we are facing a £47m hole in our finances over the next three years.
“Coupled with this, the current crisis has meant that we have drawn on our reserves to carry on providing vital services and we now have reserves which provide less than six months’ operating costs, making the need for significant savings even more critical.
“These decisions have not been taken lightly. We realise this will be a difficult time for our dedicated staff, but if we do not act now to bring our spending in line with our income, we risk losing vital animal services in the future. This restructure will enable us to refocus our work where it is most needed and ensure we can continue to be here for the animals who need us most.
“These changes are proposals at this stage and we are fully committed to a full 45-day consultation with Unite the Union launching next week.”
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