Unique Care workers plan more protests

THE STRIKING careworkers at Unique Care in Huddersfield are entering the seventh week of their dispute. They are still strong, united and determined to get justice.

Vicky Perrin

Huddersfield Socialist Party members met with the women last week to discuss setting up a strike support group. We discussed what we could do to increase publicity for the workers, to build support for them and to step up pressure on Kirklees Council to reinstate them.

As we have reported in previous issues of the socialist, the workers walked out from the privatised care service after suffering cuts in their working conditions over many months. The final straw was when the company sacked their manager.

The next meeting of the full council is on 28 February where councillor Jackie Grunsell will be raising the dispute. The support group is planning a second lobby outside the council offices on 26 February in advance of that meeting.

As a member of the UNISON national Local Government committee I have contacted the national executive member for the region. We have requested an urgent meeting with the chief executive of Kirklees council to discuss the dispute. As we go to press we are awaiting a response.

Messages of support and donations can be sent to Kirklees Local Government UNISON branch, 20 Queen's Street, Huddersfield, HD1 1SP.