ST Helier’s manual workers could strike from Monday.

Transport and General Workers Union official Nick Corbel warned this morning that ‘we will walk’ if the Town Constable refuses to back down over his welfare work scheme, which is due to start next week.The union is accusing him of ‘cynically abusing’ welfare recipients, endangering members’ jobs and disregarding written agreements of the Joint Manual Workers’ Council.The union invoked a disputes procedure before Christmas which required the parish to maintain the status quo and not introduce the scheme pending talks.

But the Constable, Simon Crowcroft, is refusing to abide by it.’This does not come within the ambit of the council and I have done nothing that justifies invoking the procedure,’ he said.

‘I am starting a voluntary work scheme which does not threaten permanent posts.

The union has no right to use that mechanism.’The Constable says he has a dozen welfare recipients geared up to start on the scheme from Monday doing various jobs, including roadsweeping.

But Mr Corbel claims he is using them as cheap labour.