Tower Hamlets 'must keep its word and stop privatisation'

Unite has slammed Tower Hamlet’s privatisation of its initial assessment team for elderly residents in need of assistance, as members of the team go on strike.

Five assessment staff, who are Unite members, are striking from today (July 12) to Friday, July 16 at being terminated as council employees and being transferred to Age UK East London.

The workers, who are being moved to Age UK under the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 2006 (TUPE), were promised by the council they would not be transferred.

Unite said the move will reduce service quality for residents and needs to be stopped.

Unite regional officer Ruth Hydon said, “As a Labour council, Tower Hamlets should not be contracting this service out for the sake of it.

“While Age UK does an admirable job, our members are part of a wider team who deliver a highly specialised service to Tower Hamlets residents and the council should not be contracting this out to an external provider,” she added.

“The transfer of these staff, who between them have decades of experience, out of the council, will negatively impact services and it will be the residents who rely on the service who will suffer,” Hydon continued.

“Tower Hamlets gave guarantees to our members that they would remain council employees. The council must keep to its word and stop this privatisation.”

By Ryan Fletcher