Workers' anger over £2m contract

The 50-strong Wear Valley District Council workforce is not on a shortlist of seven private firms being put to management company Dale and Valley Homes tomorrow night.

The workers' jobs are safe because they would transfer to the company who wins the five-year contract.

But Ray Sanderson, spokesman for their union, Ucatt, said they were bitterly disappointed because they had worked hard to help the council earn two stars from inspectors, bringing in an extra £27m in Government grants.

Dale and Valley Homes took over the management of Wear Valley's 4,600 council homes a year ago, but workers were not transferred.

In 2003, the men accepted new wage rates and multi-skilling working methods to keep the maintenance service in-house.

Mr Sanderson said: "It was not Dale and Valley Homes who got the two stars, it was the workforce.

"People are happy with our work. We provide a good service, the inspectors said so.

"We have made great progress and now we haven't even got over the first hurdle for tendering. It is unbelievable.

"Everybody is very upset and angry.

"The company had a party to celebrate the first anniversary, but none of the blue collar side were there."

Dale and Valley Homes chairman Norman Button said he sympathised with the workers.

He said: "I can see exactly what they are saying. No decision has been taken. But we have to operate under the rules and offer best value. Our maintenance costs are £600 per property against £200 in other places, partly because of our ageing stock.

"There could be legal issues. If the board decided to push them in, there could be an appeal from the company which loses out."

Consultants LMC Partnership, from Norfolk, were hired to evaluate the first two tendering stages and drew up the shortlist, looking at health and safety and performance records and financial security.

They are reporting to the Dale and Valley homes board at the Park Avenue Centre, in Crook, at 6pm tomorrow.