Unions in the midlands are furious that a £50m repairs deal is likely to be transferred because the contractor is up for sale.
Unison and UCATT have called for Birmingham council's repair and maintenance services covered by the contract to be brought back in-house to safeguard quality of service.

Birmingham awarded the five-year contract to repair and maintain one-third of its 88,000 homes to Serviceteam just over a year ago.

But Serviceteam's parent company, the Cleanaway Group, is understood to be interested in selling.

Unions Unison and UCATT expressed concern over levels of service to tenants and employees' rights and pensions, demanding that the council do the work itself. Tracy Twist, chair of Birmingham Unison, said: "We are worried about the service customers will receive and the terms and conditions for staff.

"The contract was for five years and we are not even two years into it. This has come as a bolt out of the blue and is one of the reasons we fight against privatisation of our services."

News of the sale emerged after a leaked memo revealed Cleanaway was reconsidering its business portfolio, including its maintenance and repairs work in Birmingham.

Neil Vernon, convener for UCATT's service division, said: "Just 14 months after Serviceteam told everyone they were the bees' knees and Birmingham was the jewel in their crown, they can't get out fast enough. It is not on that service providers can come along for a short time and make a fast buck. For the continuation of service to council tenants, repairs and maintenance must be brought back in-house."

A Birmingham council spokeswoman said the Cleanaway Group had said employment conditions would be protected. "Continuity of service has been assured. We will be working with Cleanaway to ensure the best possible outcome for employees and tenants."

Source

Housing Today