Swindon fights back

UNISON members in Swindon are fighting back against their employer with a series of rolling strikes, after the council decided to unilaterally axe payments to staff for working unsocial hours.

The council has refused to negotiate, so members are striking each weekend, affecting car parks, leisure centres and country parks.

South West regional organiser Chris Howe says that the first weekend of action went well.

“The largest leisure centre in Swindon had to be closed,” he explains. “But members of the public that we spoke to were understanding.”

Indeed, the pickets at car parks in the area reported “no negative comments” and even some donations to the hardship fund.

But the branch is appealing for more support for the hardship fund in order to maintain action.

You can send a donation to: UNISON, Civic Offices, Swindon SN1 2JH, cheques made payable to Swindon UNISON branch.

 

Workers prepare to fight closure

Saturday 23rd October 2010

Matthew Edwards, Swindon Advertiser

WORKERS at Deloro Stellite have vowed to fight against the firm’s plan to end manufacturing in the town.

Staff were informed on Thursday that the company was proposing to stop manufacturing in Swindon, despite claims the factory is the most efficient in the group.

Fighting the Cuts – What they will mean to health and safety?

Why do we need health and safety?

Because employers have control over how we work, the law says that they are responsible for ensuring that the workplace is safe. They have to protect the health, safety and welfare of their employees and any members of the public who might be affected by what they do.

Council sets out where axe will fall

Friday 22nd October 2010

By Scott McPherson, Swindon Advertiser

AS the dust settles on the biggest budget cuts in post-war history, Swindon Council has revealed where their axe could fall to bung a £20m blackhole in the next two years.

The council yesterday published its hit list which includes asking schools to buy back some services they want, scrapping some bus service subsidies, turning off 450 street lights, moving the Visitor Information Centre from Regent Street into the Central Library, charging for replacement recycling boxes, reducing the amount of money it hands out for allotments and start a tendering process for a range of services in the adult social care department.

Cuts – “we ought to be outraged”

Letter to the Swindon Advertiser

 

I too was outraged when I read about the staff strike affecting the Link Centre this weekend but my outrage was not directed at those going on strike. In fact I have been experiencing a growing sense of outrage that has been steadily building, in retrospect, since before this ‘financial crisis’ began but even more so since our coalition government came to power and began dismantling and irrevocably damaging this country’s public services.

Single dad shares his concerns about Budget review

Tuesday 19th October 2010

Charley Morgan, Swindon Sdvertiser

AS THE Government prepares to announce its Autumn Spending Review, people around Swindon are waiting with bated breath to hear what it contains.

Michael Wolf is one of those waiting nervously to see what the announcements will be.The 39-year-old, who is a single father of two sons, fears he might be one of those hit hardest by the Government’s budget cuts. At the moment Mr Wolf and his sons, one of whom has special needs, live in a rented house in Old Town. He works part-time as a midday supervisor at a nearby school and is in receipt of benefits to help make ends meet.

Disabled people – Changes could mean longer wait for assistance

Monday 18th October 2010

Charley Morgan, Swindon Advertiser

DISABLED people have been told they might have to wait up to an hour and a half for help using the toilet following cuts by Swindon Council.

A group from the supported living bungalows at Shaplands in Casson Road, Stratton St Margaret, were told their two on-call carers were being withdrawn due to budget cuts.

Instead, they would have to call a remote team covering the whole of the borough each time they needed assistance.

50 jobs to go at pharmaceutical firm

Katie Bond, Swindon Advertiser

 

EMOTIONS are running high at a pharmaceutical company after staff were told that 50 roles will be made redundant.

 

It comes 10 months after workers at Catalent in Frankland Road, Blagrove Industrial Estate, were told that 275 staff were to be laid off during the next two years.

Cabinet backs outsourcing social care

Thursday 14th October 2010

By Charley Morgan, Swindon Advertiser

 

SWINDON Council has set in motion plans to outsource its entire adult social care service.

Last night the cabinet approved proposals to establish a social enterprise to run the service from April 2011.

One Step Ahead must “remain where it is and as it is”

This is the speech of Leslie Lancett, to Swindon Borough Council last Thursday, in support of a petition opposing closure of the Day Care Centre One Step Ahead.

My name is Leslie Lancett. I am accompanied this evening by my wife Christine, and Bethan Vaughan, a service user at One Step Ahead, South Marston. We are here this evening to speak on behalf of the service users of One Step Ahead.