Disruption to services for people in Leeds with disabilities and special educational needs over safety concerns has ended after Unite members accepted improvements to conditions.

Around 80 workers at Leeds Council Passenger Transport walked out in January after funding cuts saw staff and passengers suffering injuries due to a lack of vital equipment such as restraints and missing risk assessments. Staffing shortages had also led to gaps in services, such as school transport being cancelled without notice.

Industrial action was paused to allow the council to implement improvements to the service, which have now been accepted.

These include hiring more staff and the implementation of a new management structure, risk assessments put in place and the issuing of mobile phones with this rollout completed by the end of April for passenger assistance staff. The latter is an important part of the improvements, as it will give staff access to risk assessments, method statements and key information while also supporting safer, more modern ways of working in real time.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: "Our members at Leeds Passenger Transport should be commended for taking action to improve their conditions and protect themselves and passengers.

"This is an excellent win for our members, which shows the power of a union. Unite will always fight for better working conditions for our members and ensure they are safe at work."

Unite has been demanding better funding for councils through its Fair Funding Now for Local Government campaign. It is calling on the government to end years of austerity amid a visible breakdown in public services and worsening pay and conditions for local authority staff.

Unite regional officer Chris Muscroft said: "Strike action was a last resort for our members, who care deeply about the passengers they look after, but they had to take a stand to improve the safety of the service.

"Unite is pleased with the outcome, which will ensure the service is vastly improved both for workers and passengers. However, the situation at Leeds council has demonstrated that national government needs to properly fund and support local authority services such as Leeds Passenger Transport."

ENDS

For media enquiries ONLY please contact Unite press officer Natasha Wynarczyk on 07970081524

Email: natasha.wynarczyk@unitetheunion.org