Liverpool City Council employees will hold their next protest tonight outside the council chambers an hour before the start of a monthly council meeting.
Those taking part will then attend the council meeting, held from 6pm in the Francis Greenway Centre, which is located next to Liverpool Library in George Street.
The United Services Union (USU), which represents local government workers, says tonight’s protest will be an effort to circumvent senior management and take concerns directly to elected councillors.
The protest is taking place following a vote by council’s outdoor staff earlier this month.
The USU said relations between staff and senior management at the council have broken down over a lack of consultation on major changes, leading to industrial action earlier this month.
USU general secretary Graeme Kelly said conflict had escalated drastically under the leadership of Mayor Ned Mannoun and CEO Carl Wulff, leading to workers directly appealing to elected councillors for assistance.
“Hard working council employees have become increasingly concerned with problems to do with the implementation of the Liverpool Service Alliance, under which management of white collar work was handed to a private company part owned by a multinational call centre operator,” Mr Kelly said.
“A threat to outsource the jobs of 12 cleaners also led to a lengthy work stoppage, while an external company has now been hired to review the outdoor workforce, with the potential that this also will be handed over to private managers.
“Local ratepayers are served by diligent, hard working staff, and all they ask is that they be properly consulted with by management, rather than having major changes and job losses forced on them.
“This rally is about staff letting councillors know that what has been taking place is unacceptable, disrespectful, unfair, and urgently needs to change,” Mr Kelly said.
