Union protest over council contracts held outside Guildhall

Angry trade union members dressed as characters from Dickens picketed before a Royal Borough meeting last night.

More than 10 people held a second demo outside Windsor Guildhall against the council's controversial decision to pull out of nationally-agreed terms and conditions.

Protesters from the union GMB held aloft placards reading 'Please Sir Can We Have Our Contracts', and other banners protesting at proposed contract changes.

Trade unions are set to hold a third protest outside Maidenhead Town Hall sometime at the end of January in a last-ditch effort to have changes made to proposals.

Frank Minal, regional organiser for GMB, said more than 350 union members work at the council, many in education.

He said: "We are here to say to the council we are going to protest about the issue and are not going to go away.

"My view is they are giving the way to make more changes to streamline the conditions such as holiday and sickness pay."

Staff have been threatened with 'dismissal and re-engagement' if they do not sign the new deals by Friday, February 1.

Protesters from UNISON, the other union with a large membership among council staff, were absent this time around after taking part in the first protest on October 23.