11 November 2005
Unison members at Sefton on Merseyside are to strengthen their campaign of selective industrial action following the council's decision last week to sack two members who campaigned against a housing stock transfer.
Nigel Flanagan and Paul Summers were sacked following charges of gross misconduct. The council alleges that the two - who are active members of the campaigning group Defend Council Housing - bullied and intimidated other members of staff during a protest outside a shop the council had hired to promote the transfer of its housing stock to a not-for-profit association.
Unison denies that its members behaved inappropriately and cites evidence from police logbooks, which it says shows that the protest was 'peaceful' and passed without incident.
Unison North West regional secretary Frank Hont said the council had 'overreacted to a storm in a teacup'. He accused Sefton of 'victimising' Unison members and said relations between the council and union had now been 'destroyed'.
Unison plans to take the cases to an employment tribunal and continue its selective industrial action in strategic areas of Sefton council.
A statement from the council denied that it was deliberately targeting Unison members and accused 'certain activists' of 'peddling' the contrary view.
A spokesman for the council said: 'It is time to draw a line under this most unfortunate incident and to move forward, concentrating on what we are paid to do — provide services for the residents, businesses and visitors to the borough.'
Unison members at Sefton on Merseyside are to strengthen their campaign of selective industrial action following the council's decision last week to sack two members who campaigned against a housing stock transfer.
Nigel Flanagan and Paul Summers were sacked following charges of gross misconduct. The council alleges that the two - who are active members of the campaigning group Defend Council Housing - bullied and intimidated other members of staff during a protest outside a shop the council had hired to promote the transfer of its housing stock to a not-for-profit association.
Unison denies that its members behaved inappropriately and cites evidence from police logbooks, which it says shows that the protest was 'peaceful' and passed without incident.
Unison North West regional secretary Frank Hont said the council had 'overreacted to a storm in a teacup'. He accused Sefton of 'victimising' Unison members and said relations between the council and union had now been 'destroyed'.
Unison plans to take the cases to an employment tribunal and continue its selective industrial action in strategic areas of Sefton council.
A statement from the council denied that it was deliberately targeting Unison members and accused 'certain activists' of 'peddling' the contrary view.
A spokesman for the council said: 'It is time to draw a line under this most unfortunate incident and to move forward, concentrating on what we are paid to do — provide services for the residents, businesses and visitors to the borough.'
PFnov2005
