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Strike threatened over loss of live-in caretakers
CARETAKERS are threatening to strike if Homes for Islington forges ahead with plans to phase out residential posts.
They say the familiar friendly face of the live-in caretaker will disappear under proposals by HfI – which runs Islington Council’s housing stock – to replace them with off-site staff.
Unions fear proposals to make staff work on an estate in the mornings then join teams to work elsewhere in the afternoons will leave areas neglected and residents unable to recognise their caretakers.
At a heated meeting last week, it is believed 200 Islington caretakers voted unanimously to reject the proposals, which are being consulted on. They believe residents will suffer as a result of the plans.
Justine Gordon-Smith, chairwoman of the Holland Walk area housing panel, which has rejected the plans, said: “It would be a real lost service. Even when my [residential] caretaker is off, he’ll come and put in that extra 20 per cent because it’s his home. People feel that residential caretakers have a lot of local knowledge that a temporary team can never have.”
Labour councillor and GMB trade union branch secretary Gary Doolan, a caretaker himself, said: “Some people, particularly vulnerable residents, prefer to have that added security. They know their caretakers. Estates where you have residential caretakers tend to be cleaner. Because they live there they give that extra bit.
“Residents will be paying the same service charges but getting less work carried out. This is an ill-thought-out proposal.”
Unions are preparing to ballot members on possible industrial action, including strikes.
A HfI spokesman said the overall number of caretakers would remain the same or be increased. Residents, staff and unions were being consulted.
He added: “We’re proposing to reduce the number of residential caretakers because, like non-resident caretakers, they do not currently work outside normal working hours. The savings made will be recycled into providing additional cover through non-residential caretakers.
“There are no recommendations to work any set afternoon patterns. Caretaker working arrangements will be based on the wishes of residents through consultation on each individual estate.”
The three-week consultation ends on November 3. |
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