Essex Socialist Party members
Striking Thurrock bin workers have beaten Tory Thurrock Council. Around 90 workers in the waste and recycling department had been on strike since the 13 April and were fighting pay cuts of between £1,200 and £3,800 a year. But the council has now made changes to the original proposal which means members will not have a reduction to their pay. The workers will return to work on Monday 24 May.
Socialist Party members supported the strike throughout and morale on the picket lines was extremely high. After only two days, mountains of rubbish were piled up at the drop-off points the council had arranged in place of the house-to-house collections. Unite’s compliance team had leafleted around the estates getting widespread support from the public.
Strikers realised that they are holding the line for refuse workers around the country, and also for workers in care and other services in their own authority. This victory will give a boost to others fighting similar attacks.