The GMB union say Mears, a major contractor to the city council, intends to derecognise unions after they refused to sign away the right to negotiate pay and conditions.
Nancy Platts, Labour parliamentary candidate for Kemptown, Purna Sen, Labour parliamentary candidate for Brighton Pavilion and Peter Kyle, Labour parliamentary candidate for Hove and Portslade, have written to Mears expressing their concerns that the company are seeking to derecognise trade unions for negotiating and collective bargaining of staff terms and conditions in their contract with Brighton and Hove City Council.
In a letter to Lucas Critchely, regional director at Mears Group PLC, they wrote: “We write to express our concern that Mears are seeking to derecognise trade unions for negotiating and collective bargaining of staff terms and conditions.
“It is our understanding that when Mears was awarded the contract five years ago and staff were TUPE transferred from the housing department in Brighton and Hove City Council, collective agreements were already in place. We believe that derecognition of the unions contravenes the basis on which the contract was awarded and it is not acceptable to us that Mears is attempting to deny trade unions the opportunity to represent their members.
“We are opposed to the action being taken to derecognise the trade unions and as a first step we must insist that you immediately rescind the threat of formal derecognition and instead outline your plan to restore effective employee relations at Mears.”
GMB branch secretary Mark Turner said: “GMB members didn’t ask for or want this potential dispute but neither will we shy from doing what’s right to protect the terms and conditions of our members.
“Mears have consistently failed to abide both by the content and spirit of the agreement from the start and have through this and other actions clearly indicated that they don’t have the inclination or will to work with unions on any occasion.”
Gary Palmer, GMB Organiser, added: “The failure of local managers to comply with the current agreement, and their attempts to bully their way to changes as an alternative to working with us, are unacceptable and have left us, as joint unions, potentially with one choice in reacting strongly to this unfair act if they don’t remove the threat.
“We will of course sit and discuss the matter with Mears, but not with the threat of derecognition on the table. Unfortunately, because we no longer trust local management, we would expect that commitment in writing from them before we do so.
“Going forward I feel it really is time that the council look to not only cancel the housing repair contract with Mears but to then look to take the provision back in-house. Only then, perhaps, may staff be both respected and treated fairly with their terms and conditions protected.”
Mears executive director Alan Stone said: “We do have a recognition agreement with unions in Brighton and I would emphasise that we do want to continue our relationship with them.
“We have asked for some points in the current agreement to be updated, as it is almost five years old. It was agreed by both parties in a June meeting that a review was required.
“We very much hope that the unions continue to discuss these points with us rather than the rather strange use of Twitter that they have employed.”
Deputy leader of the council, Cllr Ruth Buckley, said: “We are very concerned about the reported threat of derecognition of trade unions by Mears Group Ltd.
“Such action represents a major breakdown in industrial relations. This helps no one and we are keen to help resolve it.
“We are looking into the situation, and urge both parties to go back to discussions for the benefit of staff, the wider organisation and residents who rely on the services they provide.”
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