UNISON welcomes the decision by Sandwell Council not to renew a contract with an organisation that uses fire and rehire practices on its staff to remove them from national pay, terms and conditions.
UNISON is pleased that the Labour Council has applied Labour values of being against fire and rehire.
However, our members are yet to be returned to national pay bargaining so the dispute with Sandwell Leisure Trust continues and UNISON members at Tipton Leisure Centre and Portway Lifestyle Centre will once again be taking strike action on Thursday 24 February.
UNISON calls upon Sandwell Council to now take the next step and fix this dispute to avoid more industrial action in the run-up to the Commonwealth Games.
UNISON, GMB and Unite are now undertaking consultative industrial action ballots for a 2022 pay claim. Unless the Council fixes the current dispute the prospect of strike action during the Commonwealth Games, that could affect the Aquatic Centre, comes ever closer.
UNISON will continue to negotiate with both SLT and the Council to ensure a smooth transfer of staff’s employment.