Press Release
Job cuts at Cleveland police a warning over creeping privatisation
17 August 2012
Steria, a company providing outsourcing services for Cleveland police, is refusing to rule out compulsory redundancies despite making a commitment to staff just two years ago that they would have job security for 10 years.
Unite, Britain's biggest union, is warning that job cuts announced by Steria at Cleveland police are a sign of the impact creeping privatisation is having on job security and services across police forces up and down the country.
Steria took on a contract to provide ICT, finance, procurement, human resources and call handling services to Cleveland police authority in 2010. The company made a commitment to no compulsory redundancies for the duration of the 10 year contract. Yet only two years after the company signed the contract it is looking for 30 redundancies and is refusing to rule out compulsory redundancies.
Unite regional officer Dave Telford said:
"Prior to Steria winning the contract in 2010 Cleveland Police Authority told staff that outsourcing was the best thing for the police, staff and the public of Cleveland. Steria said all transferred staff were guaranteed job security and no compulsory redundancies for the period of the 10 year contract. Steria also committed to no compulsory redundancies.
"Just two years down the line staff face losing their jobs and Steria is refusing to rule out compulsory redundancies. This is despicable behaviour, the commitments made turned out to be false and this should serve as a stark warning to police staff up and down the country who potentially face having their jobs transferred to the private sector.
"Once again working people are going to pay the price for corporate irresponsibility and it is yet more proof that profits should have no place in our police services. We expect Steria to do the right thing and honour its commitment to no compulsory redundancies"
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