Staff In Strike Threat Over Cutbacks In Inverness Care Centres

Workers at two day-care centres in Inverness are to ballot for strike action over transport cut-backs that they fear will disrupt the lives of some clients.

Thirty members of the Transport and General Workers’ Union are furious that four 12-seat mini-buses serving the MacKenzie Centre in Culduthel Road and the Corbett Centre in South Kessock are to be reduced to three.

This will save the Highland Council £10,000 a year.

The union claims that the decision was taken without meaningful consultation, including with the parents and family of those attending the centres.

At present the MacKenzie Centre, which caters for the elderly, and the Corbett Centre for adults with special needs including learning difficulties, behavioural problems and autism, have two buses each.

The union members fear the removal of one bus could lead to clients from both centres sharing buses, a move that one insider said could be particularly upsetting for those attending the Corbett Centre.

He said: “Some of the young men and women who attend the centre would find any change to routine very upsetting, and years of work could be undone overnight as a result.”

The council confirmed yesterday they were cutting one bus, but client groups would not share transport.

But the union’s regional industrial organiser, Tommy Campbell, said they were concerned that they had been told there was to be no sharing “at this time”.

The ballot involves drivers, driver/attendants, support workers, cooks, general assistants and day-care officers.

Mr Campbell said: “Our members are incensed and upset at the way the matter is being handled and now that the families of those attending the Corbett Centre have been told of the changes it is expected that they will not be happy either. Our members main concern is for the welfare of the client group.

“There are a number of points concerning our members, health and safety concerns, lack of safety assessments and the question of future staffing levels.

“We certainly have not been meaningfully consulted. We are still prepared to sit down with the council but they must restore the full status quo for the passengers.”

Families have been told the three bus system will start from May 16.

Social work director Harriet Dempster said that a transport review found instances vehicles were not being used to capacity. It concluded pooling of vehicles between centres and with the education service considerable savings could be made. She added in a statement: “At a time when the council is facing severe financial constraints, achieving this type of efficiency protects front-line services.”

The statement added: “Following meetings with local managers it was agreed that the facilities could operate effectively with three vehicles if they shared their use, some routes and pick up times were amended, and if taxis could be used for some short journeys.

“Some concerns were raised from staff about transporting older people and people with learning disabilities together for health and safety reasons.

“We would like to reassure families and staff that none of the current changes have resulted in arrangements where services users from the different centres travel together. Furthermore there would be consultation with the staff in advance of any change”