Unison and TGWU say Southampton Council social care staff set to strike against new wage cutting contract

Up to 240 Southampton Council social care staff are due to stage a second strike tomorrow over plans to implement wage cuts this week.

Unison and TGWU members have already taken three days’ industrial action over the council’s plan to withdraw enhancements for unsocial hours.

Tomorrow’s strike coincides with a full council meeting to endorse the authority’s budget for 2007-8, which includes the planned cuts to the wage bill for in-house care home and domiciliary care services.

The council says these cuts are necessary for the services to “continue to be competitive”, and should staff not sign new contracts before 18 February they will be imposed.