Youth support company disbanded

A union has vowed to fight redundancies at a company which provides support services to young people on Teesside.

Connexions Tees Valley is being disbanded and its work, and workers, divided between children's services departments at the five local councils.

The company said the move is in line with government policy to create integrated youth support services.

However, 54 workers at head office are facing redundancy, and Unison is not ruling out industrial action.

'Scrap heap'

In a statement the company said: "It is in no way a reflection of the quality of service delivered by Connexions or its popularity among local users.

"Since its inception in September 2002, the service has won a number of high profile awards and has gained a national reputation as a high performing service that met all government targets last year.

"Connexions are working in close partnership with the local authorities to reduce the number of compulsory redundancies by seeking the redeployment of staff as we move towards the disaggregation of the service."

John McDade, Unison Regional Officer, said: "There are 47 Connexions Partnership throughout England and seven of them are disbanding in April 2007, but only Teesside have decided to make head office staff redundant.

"We need Connexions to come clean and explain why they have made the decision to throw 54 dedicated, experienced staff on the scrap heap and risk delivering a second class service to the young people of the area."