Trade union Unite has scheduled a meeting with Mears' management to seek employee guarantees following its recent agreement to buy Mitie's social housing business.

Mears agreed a £35 million deal to buy Mitie's housing arm yesterday, 19 November.

Unite action national officer for local authorities Ian Woodland, said: "It is imperative that Mears comes clean with the workforce over its plans for the company. Whenever a transfer occurs it creates a great deal of uncertainty for the workforce and reassurance needs to be provided.

"Mears need to provide copper bottom assurances that by purchasing Mitie it will not be seeking to make large scale job losses in order to boost short-term profits.

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"Unite workers currently employed by Mitie undertake vital housing maintenance work across the UK and the quality of that work and the service that tenants receive must not be reduced as a result of this purchase."

Workers will be legally protected by the Transfer of Undertaking Protection of Employment (TUPE) regulations, but members have expressed their fears for the future.

Scottish Unite regional co-ordinating officer for construction Steve Dillon added: "Both Mears and particularly Mitie have a large number of large ex-local authority contracts in Scotland and those workers in particular are seeking concrete information on what the future holds.

"Unite will be ensuring that all members are given the correct information and that jobs are fully protected. Unite will also be using the announcement to have a fresh membership drive at both companies, in order to ensure that all workers are fully protected in the future."

(CM/MH)