Charity staff balloted over 'sackings'

Unite is preparing for an industrial action ballot of its members at Action for Children.

The dispute involves staff at the charity's House on the Hill project in Lewisham, south London.

Talks between Unite and Action for Children broke down after the charity refused to reinstate employees whose contracts it terminated with notice earlier this month.

The organisation then issued new inferior contracts for employees to sign, which the union argued would mean that some employees will lose annual leave and other conditions relating to pay and status.

The "sackings" followed a 14-month dispute between the employees and Action for Children over weekend working.

Unite national officer Rachael Maskell said: "Employees are feeling totally demotivated and fed up by the way they have been treated by Action for Children.

"Employees are shocked that Action for Children would risk losing the majority of the staff team rather than sit down and come to a resolution that would benefit the organisation, employees and the children."