WORKERS at Hillingdon Council who fear the sack if forced to undergo treatment for terminal or lengthy illnesses are being backed by their union.
Council staff have welcomed the backing of UNISON, the public services union, which is vowing to continue to fight what it calls an 'unfair' sickness policy.
The Gazette reported on May 14 how a UNISON meeting was being held to discuss the council's policy of treating all staff the same whether they are sick long-term or not.
Since then several employees have come forward to tell their stories - all of whom have asked to keep their identities secret.
One woman said: "I was assaulted by a member of the public in 2004 and nearly lost my vision in one eye.
"I was off sick for three weeks and this triggered [the council's] short-term sickness policy. I was finally contract reviewed in January 2007 but told I would not be sacked on this occasion. I informed personnel that I was scheduled to have surgery.
"Because of complications I was off three months. I am now due another contract review and because of this I have decided to seek employment elsewhere, as life is not worth the stress that this is causing."
Another said: "I nearly got to contract review following a period in hospital for a suspected stroke.
"Anyone who has been through such an event knows how scary it is. To then find my job was possibly on the line made the stress considerably worse."
About 100 of the 1,800 UNISON members attended the meeting last month.
At the meeting, it was resolved to seek urgent and ongoing negotiations with senior council officials.
A Unison spokesman said: "It was felt that it is fundamentally wrong, and an abuse of power, for the council to adopt a 'one policy fits all' approach when dealing with staff under the sickness procedure, irrespective of the cause of their absence.
"There is a significant number of staff who have suffered under this procedure, yet the council has refused to take serious account of UNISON's concerns."
Roger Hackett, Head of Human Resources for the council, defended its policy, saying: "[We employ] more than 3,000 people providing public services across the borough.
"For effective delivery of these services it is imperative that we manage our staff effectively and the council has not only reduced staff absence levels in the past few years but also has a very strong track record of supporting staff who are suffering from a terminal illness, and their families.
"[We have] been consulting with all the trade unions about changes to the managing attendance policies. [This process] closed on May 30. We have also contacted UNISON for further information on the issues they are particularly concerned about. The final policy will make it simpler to support our staff back to work so we can deliver effective services to our residents."
