Vote for industrial action at Southampton council

Some 800 workers in the new Unite union working for Southampton council have voted in favour of industrial action over plans to privatise services and transfer employees to a private company.

Unite was formed from the merger of the T&G and Amicus unions. Union reps are set to meet this week to decide what action to take in protest at plans to sell off services such as street lighting, highways and city supplies under private finance initiatives (PFIs).

Unite spokesperson John Allott said, “PFI is inefficient. It costs more than public provision of services and hits staff where it hurts most – their pay, terms and conditions and pensions.

“Unite members will not sit by while their jobs are sold off and council services farmed out to the private sector.”

The union is also opposing the council signing a contract with Capita to outsource services and about 600 jobs.

More than 2,500 Unison members at the council are already carrying out a policy of non-cooperation over the negotiations which will be decided in July.