This week more than 100 UNISON members in Rochdale are stepping up their fight against pay cuts. The adult social care workers have already taken 15 days strike action and on Sunday they launched a further five days all out strike action in an attempt to secure concessions from their employer - the Future Directions community interest company.
Anne Marie Hetherington a Personal Assistant said 'we want to negotiate a fair deal but Future Directions will not budge. We would rather not take strike action, but we care and need to provide for our families, our community and our service users and that is why we will take more strike action if that’s what it takes.'
A march and rally is taking place in support of the strikers at 12 noon this Thursday 29 August. Asembly point is the Butts in Rochdale Town centre and speakers include Maureen Le Marinel UNISON President and Heather Wakefield national secretary for local government:
http://www.unisonnw.org/rochdale-future-direction-workers-announce-further-5-days-of-strike-action/
Over 100 UNISON members in Rochdale are staging their latest round of strike action (4 days) in their campaign to reverse pay cuts imposed by their employer, Future Directions, an arms length social care company wholly owned by the Blackburn based Calderstones NHS Trust. On Saturday hundreds of supporters marched through Rochdale and heard local, regional and national speakers including new NEC member Rena Wood who called on the community of Rochdale to stand up in support of the strikers. Messages of solidarity and donations can be sent to Helen Harrison, Branch Secretary, Rochdale UNISON, 46 Richard Street, Rochdale, OL11 1DU - cheques payable to Rochdale UNISON.
115 UNISON members employed by NHS spin off Future Directions, a social care company, started a 48 hour strike at 8am this morning (Saturday). The action was initially due to take place a fortnight ago but was blocked by a last minute injunction which the employer secured under the anti union laws. Branch Secretary Helen Harrison said ‘our members provide a vital service to vulnerable adults living in Rochdale. They do a tough job, and now they are being asked to do it for even less money, on worse terms and conditions. Some of our members may lose their homes because of these drastic cuts. They care deeply about the services they provide, but have no choice but to take this strike action’
http://www.unisonnw.org/carers-to-strike-over-pay-and-condition-cuts/
