Manchester staff to vote on strike action

Council workers in Manchester are to be asked if they want to vote on strikes over plans to axe 2,000 jobs in the first sign of industrial unrest about redundancies caused by spending cuts.

Unite said it will hold a consultative ballot among its 900 members at Manchester City Council before deciding whether to hold a vote on walkouts over plans to cut 2,000 jobs.

The union warned that the cuts, to be implemented by the end of March, would have a “savage” impact on services in the city.

Regional officer Keith Hutson said: “Our members are very angry at the speed and scale of the cuts in Manchester, and the severe impact it will have on services to some of the most vulnerable groups in society, and on their own livelihoods.”

Unite warned that the effect on services, such as schools, youth services, bin collections and the care of the elderly in Manchester would be felt quickly unless the cuts are reversed.

Mass meetings of Unite members will be held today and tomorrow and the ballot result is due in early February.

www.lgcplus.com 21/01/2011