Cardiff staff consider industrial action

Unison in Cardiff is balloting members over industrial action
following the sacking of a senior social worker, writes
Alex Dobson.

Charles Faber, who led Cardiff council’s children services
emergency duty team for the previous 20 years, was suspended in
October just hours after appearing on a local TV current affairs
programme where he warned that a child could die unless pressure on
frontline services was eased. He voiced his concerns too about the
serious lack of appropriate care placements in and around Cardiff,
the pressures on his colleagues, and his worries for some of the
youngsters in the authority’s care.

Cardiff council refuted claims that Faber had been suspended
because of his appearance on the BBC Wales programme, ‘Week in Week
Out’. The council said that he was suspended because it was
necessary to carry out an investigation into budget control. Faber
was sacked last week, and is currently appealing against his
dismissal.