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Job cuts threat to caretakers
CARETAKERS across the borough are fearing for their jobs after plans to sack 40 staff and privatise services were unveiled.
Private cleaning contractors Veolia – a subsidiary of a global company – who hold a contract with the Town Hall for street cleaning are currently working on a pilot scheme on three estates in West Hampstead, Kilburn and Swiss Cottage. They have been given responsibility for cleaning and general duties normally associated with caretakers, and if the scheme is judged a success over the summer, the company could take on other estates across Camden.
A private meeting last week with housing managers and caretakers raised the spectre of 40 caretakers and six supervisors being cut, although the Town Hall say nothing has been confirmed.
Mandy Berger, from public service union Unison threatened industrial action if anyone was made redundant.
She said: “Tenants overwhelmingly say they want to keep their caretakers, but we suspect there will be a large number of job losses because of this plan.”
She said: “We have said from day one this is simply the first stage in privatising the service across Camden. People have said how unhappy they are with the changes but the council will spin it and say it has been a great success.”
A Town Hall spokesperson said caretakers would be able to concentrate on other duties such as going into peoples home to help with minor cleaning.
She said: “Camden Council is currently piloting changes to its caretaking service to make better use of our skilled and helpful caretakers. By shifting the balance of their duties away from external estate cleaning, the proposed changes will allow caretakers to focus on helping and protecting the people who live on their estates.
“The Council has been consulting with residents about the success of the pilot, and is due to publish the results of a residents’ survey within the next few days, the initial results of which are positive. No decision has yet been made on whether to roll out the pilot to the rest of the borough.” |
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