Interserve strike ballot called

A strike by Interserve operatives engaged on Liverpool's council house maintenance programme has come a step closer with the issue of ballot papers for a vote on industrial action. A dispute over redundancies involves five unions.

"The situation is getting worse," commented Bob Blackman, TGWU national secretary. "It has become a bit of a nonsense. Those selected for redundancy have been told to stay at home. Now councillors are complaining that they can't get repairs done."

Blackman claimed that redundancy procedures had not been properly observed. He said a fresh meeting last week between union officials and the company had proved unproductive. "The most senior Interserve people were not around," he said.