Housing heads to complete workers' poll

Senior housing officers have been asked to fill in forms on behalf of subordinates to pre-empt a planned boycott of a work survey, unionists have claimed.

The unionists vowed not to recognise the survey findings and threatened a massive rally at the consultancy firm.

The survey, to be conducted by the Housing Department-commissioned PA Consulting Group, sought to determine an officer's workload in a 'typical year' or 'typical month'.

It is part of an exercise to streamline the department, prompted after a Director of Audit report pinpointed overstaffing.

Unionists have vowed to boycott the survey.

But an internal circular was issued last week, asking unit heads to ensure the survey was completed on time.