Repairers gather over job fears

Enterprise Liverpool currently maintains houses in the city

Workers who carry out housing repairs in Liverpool are staging a mass meeting over 300 potential job cuts.

Notices of possible redundancies were issued after their employer, Enterprise Liverpool, lost a contract to maintain the city's 15,000 ex-council houses.

Housing association Liverpool Mutual Homes (LMH) is looking for a new contractor from April 2009.

The union Unite said workers were angry at the way the redundancy situation had been handled.

Enterprise Liverpool, a joint venture between Enterprise PLC and Liverpool City Council, has been repairing and maintaining the homes since the houses were transferred to LMH in April 2008.

But its bid to extend the contract with LMH has been rejected, Unite said.

LMH, which is looking for a company to take over the repairs service in April, said it could not comment on individual contractors during the procurement process.

We will always aspire to excellence in service delivery and securing value for money from our contractor partners Steve Coffey, LMH

Tony Hayes, Unite Regional Officer, said: "There is a lot of anger and distress among this loyal workforce who have been carrying out the repairs and maintenance service of Liverpool City Council properties for over 40 years and now face uncertain months ahead.

"The mass meeting of all unions will be members' opportunity to say what action they are prepared to take in defence of these jobs."

Unite is calling for talks with the council and Liverpool Mutual Homes. The meeting on Thursday will discuss possible action to try to fight any redundancies.

Liverpool Mutual Homes said it could not comment on the details of the contractor procurement process while it was ongoing.

But chief executive Steve Coffey said: "LMH continues to be focused on delivering high quality home improvements and housing services to its tenants.

"We will always aspire to excellence in service delivery and securing value for money from our contractor partners."