James Ivens, London Socialist Party
“You know things are messed up when the regulators are striking”! That placard describes the mood of many staff at the Financial Conduct Authority, regulator for the finance sector.
A year ago, Unite only had around 50 members at this white-collar workplace. At the time of this strike it had around 700 and counting! Workers in all sectors are hungry for a fightback and ready to organise if the unions lead.
Members of general union Unite walked out for the second time on 9 and 10 June. Their dispute began when management restructured pay, such that workers have received pay cuts of up to 12%!
Strikers are demanding the reversal of that cut. But their main battle is over union recognition. Staff are fed up with management making adverse decisions about their pay and conditions over their heads.
