RSPCA staff back action over plan to cut 260 jobs

RSPCA workers voted yesterday to take industrial action in protest against plans to cut more than 200 jobs.

But the employees narrowly rejected a strike call in the ballot of members of the trade union Amicus. Talks are expected to be held in an attempt to avert action, including a possible ban on overtime.

About 260 administrative and management staff face redundancy as part of the charity's plans to save £7.6m. It also plans to cut the number of regional centres from 10 to five and transfer handling of phone calls to a private firm.

A strike was rejected by 225 to 218 but action short of a strike was backed by 292 to 155. Jackie Ballard, director general of the RSPCA , said the result showed that the union had misjudged its members.