The two month long dispute in Swansea Council with Information Technology workers is now set to escalate as UNISON members in the council staff have voted to take strike action over privatisation and redundancies. On a 41% turnout 63% voted yes.
102 IT workers have been on indefinite strike since 16 August over the council’s decision to privatise IT within the council. The ICT dispute arose after the Lib-Dem council began restructuring all its services under a £100 million Services@Swansea initiative.
Two private IT companies are bidding to install a new IT system in the council and UNISON believes that they will have preference over an in-house bid by existing computer workers.
Although the council-wide ballot is over separate issues the union feel it is linked.
The ballot result does not necessarily mean an “all out” strike but it gives the union the option to call a walk out by all staff.
