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- Essex County The Battle for Public Services June 2010
- EX-COUNCIL CARE WORKERS TAKE EXCELCARE BACK TO COURT
Excelcare Press release June 30 2010
EX -COUNCIL CARE WORKERS TAKE EXCEL CARE BACK TO COURT
Immediate Release 30th June 2010
All press Queries:
Michelle Bradley – UNISON Regional Officer: 0790 8672898
Ex-Essex County Council Care Workers who were dismissed for not accepting massive cuts of up to 40% of their pay and conditions are back in court with their employer Excelcare
Whilst Excelcare has sought to wriggle off the legal & moral hook an Employment Tribunal is set to hear the workers claims in a hearing commencing 12th July 2010 for two weeks.
Unison Regional Official Michelle Bradley stated “Excelcare thought winning a care contract from Essex County Council would mean easy rich pickings, by slashing staff pay & conditions to feather their own nest. Excelcare has over the past 4 years used the legal process to delay our member’s voice being heard in court, but no matter how much Excelcare has ducked & dived our members have been successful at each stage of the legal process and now we reach the point of hopefully the last legal round”.
Note: If the courts accept the workers claims compensation could run up to £3 million.
Background
· 10 elderly people homes (based in Harlow, Rayleigh, Dovercourt, Saffron Walden, Benfleet, Colchester, Chigwell, Brentwood, Maldon, Chelmsford) were transferred from Essex County Council to Excelcare in March 2005.
· Less than a year after the transfer Excelcare claimed that the homes were in financial difficulties & Unison was advised that if staff did not accept pay cuts of up to 40% & removal of other benefits like sick pay & annual leave, homes could close.
· To add insult to injury Excelcare also denied they were the care workers employer stating the workers were employed by the struggling care homes and Essex County Council washed their hands of the workers declining to `get involved`.
· A bitter dispute ensued with some staff in fear of job losses accepted the cuts whilst others were sacked for not accepting them.
· Care workers commenced legal action in Mid 2006.
· Three court hearings have taken place to date with the courts determining that Excelcare is indeed the employer //
ENDS
Michelle Bradley
Regional Officer
Regional Officer
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