Meeting against privitisation of council service

Published: 8:00 AM September 21, 2009 Updated: 8:14 AM October 14, 2020

A union meeting is being held this week in protest at the privatisation of the council s Waste Education Project. Political and gay rights activist Peter Tatchell is headlining the Unison

By Else Kvist

A union meeting is being held this week in protest at the privatisation of the council's Waste Education Project.

Political and gay rights activist Peter Tatchell is headlining the Unison meeting at Toynbee Hall in Whitechapel on September 24.

Tower Hamlets Tory opposition Leader Peter Golds, Liberal Parliamentary candidate Jonathan Fryer, Respect Cllr Abjol Miah, along with a number of trade union speakers, are also expected.

Unison says the council wants to hand over the award winning service to multi-national corporation Veolia without going through a competitive tendering process. UNISON believes the council has not properly scrutinised whether Veolia can deliver this education service or provide value for money.

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The union is campaigning against the outsourcing of council officer Phil Maxwell's job to Veolia. Phil has run the project for 10 years, educating children about the importance of recycling and caring for the environment.

He is also an active Unison steward and union branch publicity officer, as well as a former councillor and community activist.