AFTER 14 months on strike, more than 20 Tameside care workers are still continuing their dispute -in the industrial tribunal. They are asking the labour, trade union and community movement for support, and issued the following statement on June 2.
"We are asking you to extend your support to our just cause because over 20 of the strikers are continuing the campaign for justice against all odds. We do not feel what we have been offered by the Tameside Care Group is a just settlement. The offer was made ten days before the industrial tribunal and was accompanied with a biased letter from the solicitors acting for UNISON in the Tribunal. Some strikers felt that they were being railroaded.
The offer was described as "fair and substantial". But the offer of £400,000 was to be divided between over 200 people: therefore we feel the offer was neither fair nor substantial.
The offer was based on redundancy terms, and did not include pension protection or any amount for damages or for financial difficulties the strikers have found themselves in after 14 months on All those who had Industrial Tribunal cases were balloted (ie 187 people), regardless of the length of time they were strike. 85 of the original strikers were still on strike. 62 of those balloted voted against the offer, several strikers did not receive ballot papers, and others did not get their ballot paper returned within the short period allocated.
The ballot papers were sent out by UNISON on a Tuesday and had to be returned by 5pm the following Tuesday. 39 ballot papers were not returned. Some who never came out on strike were also balloted. We do not think the ballot process was democratic, since it has come to light both UNISON and Thompson (the solicitors) are aware who voted for and against. After the ballot those who voted against have been sent letters and been telephoned in an attempt to apply pressure on them to accept the offer. We are now preparing our case for an industrial tribunal. A new date for the tribunal will announced in four weeks time".
• Contact Liz Taylor Tel/ Fax 0161 339 2467 19 Edward Street, Cock Brook, Ashton-under-Lyne OL6 6RF.
• Tameside Strikers Support Group meets every Monday night at 7pm Station Pub, Warrington Street, Ashton-under-Lyne, Tameside • Please make any cheques to: Tameside Support Group/Strikers Hardship Fund.