Cardiff staff set to strike over sacking of social worker

Public services in Cardiff could grind to a halt as union
members take strike action over the dismissal of a senior social
worker, writes Alex Dobson.

Cardiff’s Unison branch decided to go-ahead with plans for
industrial action at an emergency meeting held after the council
decided to uphold the dismissal of Charles Faber, who had led the
council’s emergency duty team for the last 20 years.

In a move that is likely to paralyse services across the Welsh
capital, the union will be calling for its members to take strike
action and hold a rally on 28 March.

Last year Faber appeared on a TV programme highlighting his
concerns that a child might die if pressure on frontline services
was not eased. He voiced his fears too that children in care in the
city were being neglected because of lack of resources and that
pressure on colleagues was at crisis point.

Only hours after his appearance he was suspended, although the
council says that his suspension and subsequent dismissal were due
to poor financial management.

A council spokesperson said “We can confirm that an individual’s
appeal against dismissal has been turned down after a full hearing
before a panel of councillors. We are satisfied that our procedures
have been followed properly and that the staff member had a full
opportunity to put his case.”