John Williams, Cardiff Socialist Party
After eleven weeks of action in the autumn of 2023, Cardiff Council workers in Unite are striking again, against the national local government (NJC) pay offer.
Strike action by refuse and recycling workers started on 28 December and was due to end on 25 January, but is now extended until 22 February.
The council is considering removing public bins on residential streets and moving to three-weekly bin collections. This is part of their plans to deal with their £30 million budget gap. These plans will undoubtedly mean job cuts, and Unite members are outraged.
Passing on cuts instead of fighting them is a pattern of behaviour from the Labour-run Cardiff council, which also isn’t taking seriously the issue of bullying at Cardiff bins.
Sharon Graham says: “Unite the union’s support for our members at Cardiff council is unwavering and workers will continue to receive the union’s total backing in 2024 for as long as it takes.”
Cardiff council workers have also stood in solidarity with Palestinians at a protest outside the surgery of the local MP, who voted against a ceasefire. Many of these striking workers are coming to the conclusion that Labour won’t fight for them, and will instead be a safe pair of hands for the rich.
