Dismissal sparks Wandsworth strike

Staff at Wandsworth Council went on a one-day
strike last week over the dismissal of a social services finance
officer.

According to the council, Sarbani Mazumdar was
dismissed from the south London council last month for committing a
“serious work-related offence”.

But Mazumdar said the allegations were not
true and that she was “victimised” as a result of her work as
branch secretary of public service union Unison. She said she was
active and vocal in this role, particularly about the proposed
reduction of home care services that may result in job losses.

Last week, 346 members of staff went on strike
in protest, demanding Mazumdar’s reinstatement.

The council described the strike action as
“totally unjustified”, but said it only had a “negligible” effect
on town hall services.

Mazumdar is now awaiting her appeal, expected
at the end of May, and intends to lodge a complaint with an
employment tribunal.

Meanwhile, social workers at the council wrote
to all GPs in the area warning that its decision to privatise home
care services for older and vulnerable people would make it
impossible for them to deliver the government’s national care
standards.

The letter urged doctors to raise the issue
with primary care trusts before lasting damage was done to the home
care sector.