Unite to ballot ex-Preston City Council members for strike
action
Friday, 28th March 2008
Unite the Union members at Preston City
Council, who carry out repairs and maintenance on ex-council
houses, have voted to proceed with an industrial action ballot to
defend their pensions.
Around 100 workers are transferring over from
Preston Council to Jackson Lloyd, a building maintenance firm, next
week (Tuesday, 1st April). Jackson Lloyd has been awarded the
contract to repair and maintain ex-council homes which are now
managed by Community Gateway Association (CGA) and have offered an
inferior pension scheme. Unite says that members are so angry that
they are prepared to consider strike action once they transfer over
to Jackson Lloyd.
Unite Regional Officer, Lawrence Chapple-Gill,
said: “Our members feel very strongly on this matter.
Whilst their accrued pension with Preston City Council will be
frozen, they are unhappy that the new scheme on offer from Jackson
Lloyd going forward is an inferior and inadequate
scheme.
“If industrial action does go ahead,
it could have a major impact on the maintenance and repair service
to CGA tenants in Preston. We hope that a solution can be found so
that this does not happen.”
Unite are in ongoing talks with Jackson Lloyd
in order to find a solution and avert any industrial action.
Jackson Lloyd, based in Skelmersdale, were
awarded the contract last year by CGA to carry our repairs and
maintenance on CGA homes in Preston. The contract had previously
been held by Preston City Council.
-ENDS-
For further information please contact
Lawrence Chapple-Gill on 07876 444 773 or Ashraf Choudhury in the
Unite Press Office on 020 7420 8914 or 07980 224 761.
