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From The Socialist newspaper, 19 October 2016
Support the 'Kinsley 3' cleaners in pay fight
photo chrisjohnwebster/Creative Commons (Click to enlarge)
Jon Sibbald, Wakefield and Pontefract Socialist Party
Socialist Party members and other trade unionists took part in a march and rally in Barnsley on 15 October in support of school cleaners, the 'Kinsley 3', who have been on strike for over six weeks.
The dispute started in April this year when their school moved from the control of Wakefield District Council and became Kinsley Academy.
Cuts
Although they had nearly 30 years' service between them the school gave the cleaning contract to C&D Cleaning, a Barnsley company. C&D abolished their sick pay agreement, cut their holiday entitlement and cut their pay rate from £7.85 an hour to £7.20.
But this doesn't take into account the time they don't get paid for and other complications of having to clock on and off over the telephone. Their actual take home pay has been cut by about 25%.
When Unison tried to negotiate on behalf of the cleaners C&D said that they didn't recognise Unison and would not negotiate with them. If C&D get away with treating workers in this way it will open the floodgates for other rogue employers to do the same.
It is important that we give all the support we can to these workers.
Donations to the strike fund can be sent to Wakefield Unison, 18 Gills Yard, Wakefield, WF1 3BZ.
- Send messages of support on Facebook: Support the Kinsley School Cleaners Strike
Donate to the Socialist Party
Finance appeal
The coronavirus crisis has laid bare the class character of society in numerous ways. It is making clear to many that it is the working class that keeps society running, not the CEOs of major corporations.
The results of austerity have been graphically demonstrated as public services strain to cope with the crisis.
The government has now ripped up its 'austerity' mantra and turned to policies that not long ago were denounced as socialist. But after the corona crisis, it will try to make the working class pay for it, by trying to claw back what has been given.
- The Socialist Party's material is more vital than ever, so we can continue to report from workers who are fighting for better health and safety measures, against layoffs, for adequate staffing levels, etc.
- When the health crisis subsides, we must be ready for the stormy events ahead and the need to arm workers' movements with a socialist programme - one which puts the health and needs of humanity before the profits of a few.
Inevitably, during the crisis we have not been able to sell the Socialist and raise funds in the ways we normally would.
We therefore urgently appeal to all our viewers to donate to our Fighting Fund.
In The Socialist 19 October 2016:
Socialist Party news and analysis
Teachers working 60 hours need strikes, not studies
Health campaigns demonstrate together in 'one fight'
NHS cancer and dementia drugs 'unaffordable'
What we think
No backtracks, no compromises: we must fight for real democracy in the Labour Party
TUSC discusses new tasks after Corbyn victory
Workplace news and analysis
Sheffield bin striker slams privatised refuse bosses
Newsquest strike: Bosses realise 'contraints' of scab labour
London Underground cleaners protest pay cut
Support the 'Kinsley 3' cleaners in pay fight
International socialist news and analysis
Syria: horror deepens in Aleppo
Socialist history
Aberfan: a disaster that should never have happened
Suez 1956: the decline of British imperialism and rise of the colonial revolution
Black History Month
The radical life of Paul Robeson
Socialist Party reports and campaigns
Butterfields housing victory: "We showed that if you stick together and fight you can win"
Can you donate to the Socialism 2016 appeal?
Cheshire and Merseyside: Huge NHS cuts and privatisation planned
Devon: Campaigning against community hospitals closures
Bristol: Millions of pounds of "horrifically unpalatable" cuts
Socialist readers' comments and reviews
Moving, funny and inspiring tribute to working class heroism
Film review: Deepwater Horizon
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