UNISON members will protest today (13 July) over Southampton Council’s decision to dismiss the entire workforce and re-hire them on worse pay and conditions.
More than 1,000 protesters are expected to meet at St Andrews Park, at 12.30pm, to march to Guildhall Square for the rally, led by UNISON’s Deputy General Secretary, Keith Sonnet. A demonstration will take place outside the full council meeting, being held at 2pm.
Following the dismissal of the workforce on 11 July, the union has lodged legal claims against the Conservative-controlled council’s actions. The council failed to provide staff with an opportunity to put forward any representations, or the opportunity to appeal against their dismissal. UNISON is also pursuing legal claims for a failure to consult over the decision to dismiss all staff, with a preliminary Employment Tribunal hearing on 5 August 2011.
More than 700 workers have been striking over the past two months, including refuse collectors, librarians, traffic wardens, social workers and port health staff. A joint union strike committee is meeting this week to consider which groups of staff will be taking further action, and the work to rule by all other staff continues.
Keith Sonnet, UNISON’s Deputy General Secretary, said:
“Sacking all council staff and re-hiring them with savage cuts to pay and conditions is grossly unfair and unnecessary. The council is telling the Government it expects to pile more than