Published 22/10/2026 By William Turtle-Clark

Public sector union Unison has warned Hereford City Council that it will escalate an ongoing workplace dispute unless councillors cooperate with staff grievance procedures.

Unison, which represents current and former city council employees, reported "increasing difficulties in securing meaningful engagement with the council’s staffing committee while representing employees" following a claim lodged over staff treatment.

According to the union, it took more than a month from the initial grievance filing for a first investigation meeting to take place.

Unison highlighted wider structural concerns, including employee wellbeing, the management of staffing consultations, suspension procedures, and reported data protection failures affecting workers. It also cited a lack of union consultation regarding changes to the staff handbook and revised employment policies.

The union noted that while it previously "enjoyed a constructive working relationship" with the local authority, relations have "deteriorated significantly following changes to staffing governance arrangements."

Unison West Midlands regional organiser Keith McKenzie stated that in most regional cases, issues are successfully resolved through "engagement, transparency and a willingness to listen to staff and their representatives."

"Unfortunately, that has not been our experience in this case," Mr McKenzie said, adding that the union is "concerned that the staffing committee has repeatedly failed to engage with the union on matters affecting staff and has delayed meaningful dialogue while serious concerns remain unresolved."

Mr McKenzie warned that the lack of progress leaves the union "with no option but to take matters further," calling on elected members to "repair workplace relations before further damage is done to staff morale, public confidence and the council’s reputation."

Hereford City Council's staffing committee includes Councillors Sam Potts, Susan Boulter, Debbie Hobbs, Diana Toynbee, and Rob Owens, alongside the Mayor of Hereford, Councillor Cat Hornsey.

Members of the staffing committee and the town clerk were approached for comment.