SACKED WORKERS employed by Unique Care were singing and chanting for justice this week as picket lines began outside the Unique-owned homecare buildings in Huddersfield. This came following the dismissal of 18 employees – all UNISON members – who had walked out of work the previous week.
Ian Slattery
The brave strike action came after a walkout over the sacking of the homecare manager and built-up anger at years of workers feeling harassed, intimidated, bullied and abused.
Unique management had also forced through a new contract two weeks ago, despite the refusal of many to sign it. This contract includes a forced minimum of 20 hours of work a week. Yet, many employees are part-time workers, including some studying for full-time degrees.
UNISON steward Gloria Matheson explained that “prior to Christmas we were short-staffed and under-pressure. The tenants here need full-time care and the work was hard enough without our manager being sacked – she knew information off the top of her head that nobody else does and we can’t work without her.
“We met and decided that enough was enough, that we would walk out. Then the management just sent us dismissal letters, they had no intention of negotiating with us.”
The homecare manager explained that she knew action was coming against her and that she will fight for her job back, going through the appeal process. However, with the previous disciplinary meeting refusing any witnesses except the company’s chief executive, it is clear everyone will have to fight hard for a fair hearing.
Workers call for:
- Immediate re-instatement of sacked workers
- The council to investigative Unique Care’s employment practices
- The strike will continue until justice is served, please show your support and solidarity to this courageous campaign.
