John Williams, Cardiff East Socialist Party
Socialist Party members have been supporting Cardiff bin workers who started a two-week strike on 4 September. Bin workers in Unite are also striking in Wrexham and will soon be followed by Gwynedd.
However, there’s a lot of anger that GMB members weren’t even balloted for strike action in Wales, and while Unison members in Wales voted 81% in favour for strike action, they didn’t meet the undemocratic 50% turnout threshold. But overall, union members have rejected the offer of a £1,925 rise.
Unite says this would mean a pay rise of between 4% and 9%. Over the past 12 years, these workers have had a real-terms pay cut of 24%. So in reality, that’s a pay cut of 24% with the offer not bridging that gap. All the unions involved are calling for a 12.5% pay increase.
Cardiff bin workers on strike are pledging to struggle on until a better offer is put forward. And there are some harrowing stories from the picket lines of the effect of poverty pay being implemented by a ‘Labour’ council. “I know someone who uses 45% of their pay packet on childcare. People with kids and a mortgage, it’s not enough to live on… We’ve been told the bosses aren’t backing down.
Struggling
“They’ve been saying we’ve been offered 9% but we haven’t. I know someone who works here who didn’t have any money for food. His missus was laid off. I had to buy him a Greggs. Everything’s going up, some people like me aren’t struggling but I’m coming out for those who are.”
A rally was also organised in conjunction with the residents’ group to say “no to shit pay”. At the rally, workers explained how elected representatives who are implementing poverty pay are “part of the problem” and whose actions are forcing workers to go to food banks.
Why should trade unions give political and financial backing to councillors who are members of their union but are using their elected positions to implement poverty pay?
Unite suspended Coventry Labour councillors for doing just that, and it’s now union policy to not give backing to councillors who pass on cuts.
Cardiff socialists will continue to support these striking workers, and we will fight to build a political alternative so council workers get the pay they need, as well as deserve.
