Five thousands workers at Swansea Council are to be balloted on industrial action in support of IT staff who are currently on strike in protest at the proposed privatisation of their jobs. Some 800 people attended a union meeting yesterday when staff voted in favour of a ballot.

In a statement, IT workers said: "Yesterday's meeting of the Unison branch took all this to an entirely new level. To those colleagues from other departments who spoke so eloquently in support of our action, we give our thanks.

"To every single person who raised their hand in support of being balloted for supporting action, we give our thanks.

"The morale of we striking ICT workers is once again sky high following this most emphatic demonstration of solidarity. Emotions were running high amongst us as we filed out of the hall. Mere words cannot sufficiently express our gratitude."

Ten days ago 100 IT staff at Swansea Council bagn "indefinite" industrial action over plans to outsource the local authority's IT department to a private firm. ®

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