Andy Hammond, Essex Socialist Party
There is a culture of intimidation at Harlow District Council, led by the Tory Council Leader, Dan Swords. A Unison rep told us that workers are not being respected and there have been arbitrary firings of staff to scare the remaining workers. Furthermore, the council refuses to talk to Unison regional officers, even though the union is formally recognised.
In particular, this is about the council trying to enforce a return to working four days in the office. They are refusing to negotiate with Unison over the conditions of the return, despite Unison having made several attempts to do so. The union is not against the return but insists there must be certain conditions met.
As of Thursday 17 September, the union is formally in dispute with the council. In the evening there was a council meeting in which Dan Swords was handed a letter informing him personally of this. The union reps and supporters then walked out of the public gallery together.
Unison is going to ACAS, and will have a consultative ballot of members to seek a ballot for industrial action.
