Cardiff hit by strike action

Council services in Cardiff were hit today (Wednesday) as unison
members in the city took strike action in support of sacked social
worker Charles Faber.

The strike comes after the failure by Faber to win his appeal
against dismissal. The union has accused the council of ‘shooting
the messenger’ after Faber, who had been a social worker for 25
years, highlighted what he saw as a crisis in local authority
children’s services.

Last year Faber, who headed the emergency duty team in the city,
appeared in a TV documentary where he outlined his concerns. He
says he was made a scapegoat by the council after being suspended
hours after his appearance on the programme.

Union leaders say the one-day strike is likely to affect leisure
centres and libraries and to seriously disrupt housing, planning
and council tax collection services. There will be picket lines
around major council sites including the city and county halls.

Following the rejection of Faber’s appeal Unison branch
secretary Peter King said the decision made a mockery of the
council’s whistleblowing policy, and that Faber had been targeted
for doing nothing more than highlighting shortcomings in a crucial
child protection service.

Faber, who is temporarily working for the Royal Mail, says he
has applied for jobs with virtually every local authority in Wales,
but has been unsuccessful.