A THOUSAND front line staff serving vulnerable people in York could take industrial action after a controversial sickness reporting scheme was extended.

Union bosses say employees, including adult social workers, customer service and advice staff, are so angry that a ballot could now be held.

Members will be consulted by the trade union Unison after City of York councillors voted to continue the pilot scheme employing nurses to handle sick calls from staff until December.

Council chiefs launched the pilot in September, after learning the 1,000-strong Adult Services department lost 28 days per full-time worker each year, at a cost of £2.3 million. Now, instead of calling line managers, sick carers and social workers speak to occupational health nurses over the phone who offer treatment advice and conduct follow-up checks when required.

Heather McKenzie, deputy general convener at Unison, said the decision to continue the pilot had left her "absolutely gutted".

"Members will be very, very upset by this decision. They will feel that they haven't been fully considered and that their feelings and experience hasn't been taken into account. We need to go back to them and ask them what steps they want to take now - and that could be balloting for industrial action."

Peter Household, general convener of Unison's York city branch, said: "We strongly object to this because we consider that its basic intention is to harass people into returning to work. Some members find it intrusive."

The Evening Press understands that any industrial action could include non co-operation with the pilot scheme and working to rule, before an all-out strike is considered.

Key staff in the department include those who work with the disabled, in mental health and with elderly people.

A meeting of the council's personnel committee heard Stephen Forrest, the council's human resources manager, reveal how the scheme had been successful in reducing the frequency of absence by 23.5 per cent.

Mr Forrest said: "The council is performing very poorly and this is a problem that has persisted for two to three years at least.

"The authority has no choice but to find solutions and take some action."

But Ken Green, head of human resources, admitted to the meeting there had been problems in the way the scheme had been communicated to council staff, but said: "It is showing some initial signs of improvement."

A City of York Council spokeswoman said: "We are surprised to hear that the trade union is considering any form of action.

"We have invited them to take part in further work with the pilot scheme and want to work constructively with them."

Updated: 10:27 Thursday, April 21, 2005