A COUNCIL has denied allegations over the potential illegal use of agency workers designed to break a strike. 

The Unite union said today that it has found evidence that employment agencies may be supplying labour and advertising positions to cover work that would normally be undertaken by workers currently on strike at Cardiff Council.

The use of “scab” agency labour to undermine strikes is a criminal offence and carries with it large fines and other punishments, not only for the employment agencies concerned but also the council itself, the union pointed out.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said that council leader Huw Thomas and his cabinet must immediately investigate if employment agencies are illegally advertising and supplying labour.

A council spokesman said: “There is absolutely no truth in this allegation. The council is well aware of the law in this regard and has followed it scrupulously.

“Cardiff Council respects workers’ rights to strike and would not undertake any strike-breaking action which would or could break the law.”