UNISON announce Sandwell Council House rally to coincide with strike action
UNISON is holding a rally outside Sandwell Council House on Thursday to coincide with another day of strike action at Sandwell Leisure Trust.
The rally will take place on Thursday at 12.45pm outside Sandwell Council House in Oldbury.
UNISON has been in dispute at Sandwell Leisure Trust for over 12 months, because of claims they fired and rehired staff to remove them from the national pay, terms and conditions negotiating body.
Sandwell Council recently terminated its contract with Sandwell Leisure Trust, which will no longer run the borough's leisure centres after 18 years.
Tony Barnsley, branch secretary for Sandwell UNISON said: "We welcome the decision that a Labour-controlled council has ended its relationship with an organisation that fired and rehired its staff.
"We now call upon Sandwell Council to fix our dispute and ensure staff revert to their original pay, terms and conditions. Otherwise, the prospect of further industrial action happening during the Commonwealth Games moves closer."
He added: "The new £73 million Aquatic Centre in Sandwell has been built to host swimming and diving events for the 2022 Commonwealth Games which start in July.
"Sandwell Leisure Trust were set to run the Aquatic Centre. It is unclear at this stage who will take control of running the leisure facilities, including the new aquatics centre, or whether a tendering process will take place."
Sandwell Council has been contacted for comment.
