Workers at a London Labour council could strike after the council has been accused of institutional racism and “transparent union busting”.
Unisons’s Lewisham council branch committee on Wednesday voted unanimously to move towards balloting members at a meeting.
It follows council plans to sack both of its Unison branch secretaries and as the council prepares to make £25million worth of cuts.
Children’s services and adult social care are expected to take the worst hit.
Managers issued a six week redundancy notice to Lewisham Unison’s joint branch secretary Justine Canady, 27, earlier this week.
Jay Kidd-Morton, Canady’s co-branch secretary, is also in line for dismissal.
This has sparked claims of institutional racism which the council strongly refutes.
Christina McAnea, the general secretary of Unison, has issued a statement calling on the council not to victimise the representatives or to discriminate in the process.
She said: “It is disappointing that the council have failed to engage with the many arguments put forward about the nature of their actions and they’ve failed to address Unison’s valid concerns.
“There is no place for any form of discrimination within our workplaces and everyone deserves an impartial and just process. No branch activists should ever be victimised by any employer for their participation in Unison and we must always stand up for what is right and fair.”
A member of Unison’s national executive, Elaine Jones, called the dismissal of the main union representatives “a brutal way to treat workers.”
“Lewisham Council is now engaged in transparent union-busting ... Someone senior evidently thinks that they can get away with treating a young woman like this, as well as sacking her black co-joint secretary,“ she said.
Many other members have echoed these views.
A spokesperson for Lewisham council said: “We strongly deny these allegations.
“As a council we have strong and valued relationships with our unions and work constructively with them to ensure our staff have access to union representation. We also have a responsibility to provide value for money for our residents and to ensure that our staff and structures are fit for purpose and delivering high quality services.
“We cannot comment on specific employment issues but can confirm we are following our normal HR processes, as we would for any member of staff in similar circumstances. In the meantime, we are in active dialogue and discussions with Unison to ensure it can continue its important role in supporting our staff.”
