Union members in crunch talks about reception security screens

4:47pm Tuesday 5th September 2006

UNION members were in crunch talks with council chiefs over staff safety as News Shopper went to press.

The meeting on September 4 followed a protest outside Woolwich Town Hall in Wellington Street staged by union members.

The dispute centres on council workers at Nelson House, Wellington Street, Woolwich, being moved to a new multi-purpose site at Riverside House, in Woolwich High Street.

The move will see five social services receptionists working without security screens by February next year.

Unison branch secretary Onay Kasab says security screens were introduced at Nelson House in response to violent incidents and says it is ludicrous not to fit them in the new offices.

The council has agreed to employ a security guard and put CCTV in the new offices but Unison is still pressing for protective screens.

Other issues discussed included inner London weighting and pay for nursery nurses and Cleansweep workers.

Mr Kasab said: "We are willing to negotiate to reach a resolution on these areas which have caused great anger among council employees."

News Shopper reported recently how 600 social services workers could strike if a deal is not made at the meeting.