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Town Hall protest over Home Care Services
Date published: 17/10/2007
A large well organised demonstration against the proposed privatisation of Home Care Services greeted Councillors arriving for this evening’s (Wednesday 17 October) full council meeting at Rochdale Town Hall.
Organised by Unison the purpose was to lobby councillors who would be taking part in a debate on Home Care in the council meeting and councillors were asked to sign a petition against the moves to outsource - Labour and Conservative Councillors were happy to oblige but Liberal Democrat were not.
A spokeswoman who did not want to be named said: "We are local Home Care Service workers protesting because we want to protect the most vulnerable people in our town.
"Outsourcing caring will not work, it is best kept in house, that is, as it is now, a service provided by Rochdale Council and staffed by council employees.
"Many service users are heartbroken at the idea and some are very frightened.
"Staff are also seriously worried, including managers, because jobs will be lost, hours will be reduced and pay will be cut. And no matter what they say, the private employers can change things a year down the line."
Dozens of the protesters made their way to the public gallery to witness what was a lengthy and impassioned debate sensitively handled by the Mayor, Councillor Peter Evans.
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