STRIKES by council workers could be on the cards if a controversial pilot scheme to cut sickness absence is made permanent.

Union bosses warned of industrial action as City of York councillors considered the success of a project in Adult Services where workers missed an average of 28 days a year.

It forces staff to contact nurses from the company Active Health Partners rather than managers when calling in sick.

Nurses offer treatment advice and carry out checks before telling council bosses when the employee should return to work. Unison's York spokeswoman Heather McKenzie said: "We did an indicative ballot.

"The overwhelming majority of people said they would agree to industrial action if Active Health were to remain. I can't emphasise too strongly how angry and upset staff are about this.

"Staff see this as a big stick approach."

The council's personnel committee was asked to note the scheme's impact on absenteeism and discuss what action should be taken after the pilot.

The numbers of people calling in sick fell by 21 per cent during the pilot - although the number of days lost rose because of several long-term illness cases.

But Ms McKenzie, general conveynor of the York branch, criticised the report as "misleading".

Staff felt under pressure to return to work or give a return-to-work date when ringing in sick, she said.

They also felt pressurised to receive calls at home.

She called on councillors to focus on "work load, how staff are treated and what support is given".

"Without understanding how sickness is caused, what is influencing it and how we could improve it, it seems ridiculous to be paying out money in this way when we can't see any benefits," she added.

Ken Green, head of human resources, said it was awaiting the latest findings for a fuller picture.

"In this service area we have higher levels of sickness absence than anywhere else in the council," he said. "We have tried to introduce an extra tier of support. It is going to show some positive signs of improvements."

Councillor Viv Kind asked for more details before the committee made its decision.

"I would like to have more feedback on how staff see this pilot," she said. "We need a comprehensive report on how the pilot is working from all angles."

Another report will be presented in December when a decision is expected on whether the scheme will become permanent.

Updated: 09:57 Friday, November 04, 2005