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Unison will ballot members on options for industrial action over plans to replace block payments for ‘essential users’ and 36.9 a mile ‘casual user’ payouts with a 40p flat rate.
Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council said the move would ‘discourage unnecessary mileage’ and save £347,000.
The Government’s approved mileage rate for all organisations, private or public, is 40p.
The union called for a £600 lump sum for essential users plus the 40p a mile, while it said it was prepared to accept 40p for casual users.
It said after its AGM last week: “A decision to ballot on options for industrial action was announced.
“Members will receive a ballot form in the next month to consult them on options for industrial action against the imposition of the mileage scheme.”
It said: “The employer is proposing to take money out of our pockets and put it into their own at a time of rising fuel prices.
“This move by management represents an attack on our local terms and conditions.”
The union said the proposal is ‘fundamentally unfair’ and said: “From our consultation essential car users calculated they would lose about £500 per year under the new scheme.”
The union said management ended the negotiation last month and announced their intention to ‘impose the scheme without further discussion’.
Unison said managers had requested petrol receipts for the council to claim VAT.
It said: “This is a request and a request that can and should be ignored.
“If your manager asks you for your receipts ask them for £600 lump sum. No £600 no petrol receipts!”
Branch treasurer David Williams said: “We are experiencing a massive cut in our living standards comparable only to the 1930s.”
The council has imposed a three-year pay freeze and demanded higher pension contributions.
It is cutting costs by 10 per cent across all departments, with youth services and education set to be hit hard.
Branch secretary Jolyon Jones said ‘fighting the mileage dispute should be a priority for the branch to discourage the employer attacking our other terms and conditions in coming years’.
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