Fury over award-winning East End eco job being privatised

Published: 4:09 PM September 22, 2009 Updated: 8:14 AM October 14, 2020

TRADE unionists are fighting moves to privatise’ a local authority’s environment education project which has been running for 10 years. The Unison local government union holds a public meeting at Whitechapel’s Toynbee Hall tomorrow to protest at Tower Hamlets selling off its award-winning Waste Education’ project

By Else Kvist

TRADE unionists are fighting moves to 'privatise' a local authority's environment education project which has been running for 10 years.

The Unison local government union holds a public meeting at Whitechapel's Toynbee Hall tomorrow (Thursday) to protest at Tower Hamlets handing out its award-winning 'Waste Education' project to private enterprise.

The authority is giving the service to multi-national corporation Veolia without going through a competitive tendering process, the union claims.

Protesters are objecting to environment official Phil Maxwell's job going to Veolia.

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Phil, a union shop steward and branch official as well as a former councillor, has run the project for 10 years educating children about recycling and the environment.

Speakers at tomorrow's 6.30pm meeting include political and gay rights activist Peter Tatchell, Tower Hamlets Tory Opposition leader Peter Golds, Lib Dem Parliamentary candidate Jonathan Fryer and Respect councillor Abjol Miah.