Liverpool takes strike decision

Following a well-attended meeting last Thursday, the workforce was due to make its decision on whether to strike when it met Enterprise-Liverpool senior officials yesterday (Tuesday).

Last week (CJ 23 June) it was revealed that workers were unhappy about the handling of the contract, which expires this week, following the decision by the Enterprise-Liverpool joint venture (not Liverpool City Council's decision as was first reported) to terminate the contract that was losing £15,000 a week.

UCATT convener John Winstanley told CJ: "Staff are very unhappy that they have been left in the dark over the decision by Enterprise-Liverpool to terminate the contract and that the 65 workers involved will now be TUPE'd across to a new contractor, possibly without the correct terms and conditions."

Winstanley also told CJ that unions are calling on council members to launch a public inquiry into the handling of the contract, which Interserve novated across to Enterprise-Liverpool in February.

"It's not right that the contract was transferred so easily. We need to be sure that full attention was given to the details," he added.

Enterprise-Liverpool has strongly dismissed fears of redundancies, confirming that all staff will be transferred. Enterprise-Liverpool stressed that the contract ended following a relevant notice period after attempts to make the contract cost-effective failed.