Union leaders say they have had productive talks with IW Council bosses over a number issues, as up to 200 members gathered to lobby over planned budget cuts.

Unison union representatives, including Branch Secretary Mark Chiverton, met with Chief Executive Steve Beynon.

The union has again been reassured that Mr Chiverton won't have to leave his job, as he stands for Labour in the forthcoming general election. They have also agreed further talks on the on-going dispute over changes to car allowances, which has already lasted 11 weeks.

Andy Straker, regional officer for Unison, told IW Radio: ""Things went better than we'd hoped and we managed to have conversations about how we've been feeling lately, on the way that we felt that sometimes certain members of Unison had been bullied and trying to get a way of going forward on a more positive note than what's been going on recently"

Meanwhile, up to 200 union members and other interested parties turned out to lobby councillors arriving for Tuesday evening's Cabinet meeting.

The Unison-organised event was over the council's plans to cut its budget in a range of areas, including social care.

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