STRIKE action is still looming after an emergency meeting between social services bosses and union members failed to stop council workers balloting for industrial action.

UNISON branch secretary Tony Garnsey says members have welcomed concessions made by the social service department of Blackpool Borough Council, but it is not enough to stop them balloting for strike action.

An emergency meeting was held between Mr Garnsey and the director of social services, Steve Pullen, at the Town Hall on January 9.

And in the evening, Mr Garnsey addressed 250 UNISON members at a meeting at Norbreck Castle.

Staff working for Blackpool Borough Council's social services department first proposed strike action last week after 20 compulsory redundancies were ordered.

They are also angry at the practice of "ring-fencing", where jobs are terminated by the council, either by the closure of care homes or by the dissolving of particular posts. The employee is then invited to re-apply and take part in an interview for a new post.

Tony Garnsey explained why the staff were so angry. "How can someone get a job who has only got five years' experience over someone who has 20?" he said.

But at the emergency meeting the council offered concessions, saying it will put an end to ring-fencing. It also said the voluntary redundancy scheme will be extended.

Mr Garnsey said the reaction from members was grateful, but that initial demands still had not been met, and therefore the ballot would continue.

"We were very happy with the concessions, but our original demand was that all redundancies were taken back and that has not happened.

"They have also offered to meet us once a month to discuss future problems -- we've heard that before and the council has never delivered.

"Our members are still pushing for a 'Yes' vote on the ballot." The ballot will run until January 15.

Director of social services Steve Pullen said he felt the meeting was very constructive, but understood UNISON members still had some grievances.

"I think we helped to get rid of some of the angst about re-deployment," he said.

"I feel we now have a basis of common ground and, although I am not saying we will face situations again like this in the future, we have found new ways of dealing with it that are acceptable to management."

Late last year we reported how social services succeeded in closing six of Blackpool's eight council-owned care homes, which led to the current situation of redundancies and job changes for workers within the department.