In My View from Councillor Richard Williams, Leader of Southampton Labour Councillors’ Group
Churchill said talking is better than fighting and I felt that again after reading Saturday’s Echo comments by editor Ian Murray concerning the protection of vulnerable children in the city. I also agreed with Cllr. Jeremy Moulton when he said their protection was above party politics. The Labour Group strongly sees the dispute between the Tory-administration and its staff as a management issue that needs to progress by dialogue. That’s why nearly two weeks ago I urged the Chief Executive to support the union’s request for speedy talks at the conciliation service ACAS. The date has now moved forward from June 21st to June 16th, still not soon enough in my opinion.
After reading Saturday’s articles I spoke to the unions and was re-assured that all staff members taking industrial action are continuing to protect all vulnerable children as they do in their normal daily work. They confirmed that this dispute would not put children at any greater risk. In response to these re-assurances I am calling on the Conservatives to withdraw their threats of summary dismissal on any staff member who has not signed the new contracts cutting their terms and conditions whilst talks take place. Disappointingly the Tory-run council have rejected options of talks at ACAS that were possible this week for the 8th and 9th June because of “diary problems” (as reported in last week’s Echo).
If Conservative politicians in Southampton are serious about the protection of vulnerable children then their needs are more important than existing diary commitments. The unions have already shown they put health and safety above everything else when they immediately responded to a bin fire in Albion Towers and are ready to go ACAS within 24 hours.
The staff are dedicated professionals who want to find a negotiated way to solve this problem. I am sure that progress could be made if a “meeting of minds” on the suspension of the summary dismissals whilst talks were held was offered. I hope that Cllr. Moulton is as good as his word and offers this sort of “half way house” this week.
