Coventry single status dispute
The stakes are raised
COVENTRY COUNCIL workers are fighting a pay-cutting deal being
imposed under a ‘Single Status’ agreement. Thousands of workers, UNISON
and TGWU members, were on strike on 19 May and on 24 and 25 May.
Dave Nellist, Socialist Party councillor
GMB/Apex voted against strike action, but in support of action short
of strike. A work-to-rule involving all three unions is therefore
continuing on non-strike days.
Approximately 1,600 workers (according to the council’s figures) are
‘losers’ – some up to £8,000 a year. A large number of workers such as
refuse collectors and gravediggers on, say, £16,000 to £19,000, face
cuts in pay of £3,000 or more.
Many more of those said to be neutral or ‘gainers’ are unhappy with
restrictions on pay increments under the new system, or have lost shift
and premium payments.
Coventry is apparently the first city to strike over Single Status.
But there must be a nationally co-ordinated response as the pay cuts in
Coventry could be repeated elsewhere unless a national fight-back is
developed. Coventry UNISON branch are understood to be calling for an
urgent special national conference of local authority unions to begin
this.
l Please send messages of support to UNISON and TGWU: Coventry
UNISON, Room 11, The Koco Building, The Arches, Spon End, Coventry CV1
3JQ. Telephone: 024 7667 9475, or email: [email protected]
. Further background at www.coventryunison.co.uk
.
TGWU office, Broadgate House, Broadgate, Coventry CV1 1NH. Telephone:
024 7683 3235. [email protected]
