Sackings threat withdrawn at Renfrewshire leisure charity

Renfrewshire Leisure Ltd has withdrawn threats to dismiss ex-council staff working for the organisation unless they signed-up to a range of detrimental working conditions.

UNISON, which represents a large majority of the permanent staff in the trust which runs ex-council leisure centres, stepped in after being told that the company would cease negotiating and issue staff with an ultimatum - sign up to new conditions or face the sack.

UNISON had been negotiating to try and reach agreement on new working conditions, as part of an attempt to end discriminatory pay by the company.

The union told the company that legal advice they have received makes it clear that the company proposals continue unequal pay systems and are discriminatory.

Mark Ferguson, UNISON Renfrewshire Branch Secretary said "I was disappointed that Renfrewshire Leisure were choosing to ignore the sound legal advice UNISON has received, and wanted to walk away from negotiation.

“This left our members with no option but to consider industrial action, a decision that is not taken lightly."

Renfrewshire Leisure had recently contracted a private personnel firm to give them advice, a service which was previously provided by Renfrewshire Council.

Talks are now under between the Renfrewshire Leisure and the union.

Leisure services in Renfrewshire, Glasgow, Edinburgh and other areas were farmed out to ‘Trusts’ in recent years as a way of saving tax, with the loss of democratic control and often attacks on conditions.

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