by Kate Ramsden

Finally, a date has been set in February 2006 for Aberdeenshire Council's sheltered housing wardens' employment tribunal.

UNISON is fully supporting the wardens and has hired a specialist QC to represent the 47 members involved.

The wardens claim they have not been paid the national minimum wage for all the hours that Aberdeenshire Council made them work, and that the Working Time Directive has been breached.

"The sheltered housing wardens have been expected to be on call and available for ridiculously long hours," said Emma Phillips, regional organiser.

"We believe that this time is working time and that the wardens should have been paid properly for it. It has had a major impact on their lives."

Despite lengthy discussions with the employer over a number of years, it has not been possible to resolve the issue, and SiU readers will remember that wardens first lodged claims at the Employment Tribunal in September 2004.

UNISON is disappointed that Aberdeenshire Council has not admitted their liability.

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