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Unison workers strike
MORE than 500 council workers in Hampshire are taking part in a 48 hour strike which began today(July 16).
Caretakers, cooks, librarians, social workers, lollipop ladies, architects, binmen and cleaners are among 500,000 workers on strike across the country over a below-inflation 2.45 per cent pay offer.
Osborne School in Andover Road, Winchester, which has about 156 children aged 11-18 with special needs on roll is closed today and tomorrow as teaching assistants joined the walkout.
The strike in Hampshire shut eight schools, 10 libraries, including the flagship Gosport Discovery Centre, and two mobile libraries.
Eastleigh's Hexagon Day Centre for the physically disabled was also closed by the stoppage.
A spokesman for Eastleigh Borough Council estimated that up to 60 of its 560 employees had gone on strike. He said, as a result, some rubbish collections would be delayed but that they would have caught up by Saturday.
Winchester City Council said 16 of its employees had walked out, while no one from Serco, which is responsible for the city's refuse collections, supported the strike.
In Winchester, Unison set up picket lines at most of the county council's offices, including its headquarters in Castle Lane and other major offices, including Hampshire Record Office in Sussex Street and social services, in Andover Road before about 100 marched along the High Street.
Rolli Rowlands, branch secretary for Unison at Hampshire County Council, said more than 70 per cent of its members had supported the strike, amounting to 15 per cent of the council's 27,000 workforce.
He said: "We'll hopefully sit down and talk and negotiate a better deal with the local government and hopefully this strike will put us in a better position to have meaningful consultation with them.
"Striking is the last resort it's something we don't want to do. When you ask someone on six pounds an hour to go out on strike it's really painful for them."
He added union members providing care or nursing services were asked not to strike so as not to put any members of the community at risk.
But a county council spokesman said the effects were "minimal."
Council managers estimate about 414 staff, excluding schools, took part.
A council spokesman said: "The impact of the UNISON and UNITE strike on Hampshire County Council's services is minimal, and frontline essential services continue to be provided as usual."
The public sector union is planning a further strike in September over local government pay if its six per cent claim is not met.
Teachers are not involved in the strike.
Mr Rowlands said: "It is more common for special schools to close because they rely the most on teaching assistants.
"Heads have to assess the health and safety of staff and pupils who remain at the school because if they are injured due to insufficient staffing levels it could put the school in jeopardy."
About three staff at Lanterns Children Centre in Bereweeke Road, Weeke, went on strike but temporary cover was organised and neither the pre-school or day centre was disrupted.
Leader of Hampshire County Council Cllr Ken Thornber, said: "Our priority is to the vulnerable people of Hampshire and children in our care and the county council will do everything possible to ensure that they will be well looked after throughout the period of industrial action."
Mr Thornber said a letter had been sent to all employees to inform them of the "employment effects of participation in the action."
Dave Prentis, general secretary of Unison, said: "The pounds in local government workers' pockets are turning to pennies.
"The cost of everyday essentials like milk, bread, petrol, gas and electricity are going through the roof. Our members cannot afford to take another cut in their pay."
* Meanwhile a separate strike by staff at Hampshire Police's control centre at Netley, which was due to start tomorrow (July 17) over changes to shift arrangements, was suspended on Monday (July 14) so Unison members can be balloted on the employer's latest offer.
1:29pm Wednesday 16th July 2008
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CommentPosted by: Christine Melsom, Hampshire on 9:05am Thu 17 Jul 08
I am pleased to read that the strike in Hampshire was not well supported. No one in Local Government is expected to work for the the minimum wage: something many many people in the private sector have to accept.
Any additional payments made to council employees must come from a decrease in numbers of staff the councils employ. Who do these people think will pay for their demands? The low paid and pensioners will have to help foot the bill.
They should think themselves very lucky that they have a job in Local Government with its security, and the promise of a safe pension to boot.
I am pleased to read that the strike in Hampshire was not well supported. No one in Local Government is expected to work for the the minimum wage: something many many people in the private sector have to accept.
Any additional payments made to council employees must come from a decrease in numbers of staff the councils employ. Who do these people think will pay for their demands? The low paid and pensioners will have to help foot the bill.
They should think themselves very lucky that they have a job in Local Government with its security, and the promise of a safe pension to boot.
Posted by: paul, winchester on 9:31am Thu 17 Jul 08
I work for Hampshire County Council.I agree with the strike.The amount of money that I see wasted in my department is sickening.money is spent on things we dont need or on things we could get cheaper by shopping around.If we cut out the disgusting abuse of public money we could all get the payrise we are striving for !!
I work for Hampshire County Council.I agree with the strike.The amount of money that I see wasted in my department is sickening.money is spent on things we dont need or on things we could get cheaper by shopping around.If we cut out the disgusting abuse of public money we could all get the payrise we are striving for !!
Posted by: Rolli Rowlands, Winchester on 11:59pm Thu 17 Jul 08
HCC is a 4 Star Authority who has saved £12 million in efficiency on the back of a workforce that work additonal hours for no recompense -
Therefore an increase in pay would not result in redundancies - the coiuncil tax wont increase as the Torys have maxed it out evey year up to the capping limit and as for the pension a full time home carer of which there are not many after 40 years service would have a £6K pension to which they have contributed out of their own money - the average pension in local government is under 4K and the average wage is unde £16K
HCC is a 4 Star Authority who has saved £12 million in efficiency on the back of a workforce that work additonal hours for no recompense -
Therefore an increase in pay would not result in redundancies - the coiuncil tax wont increase as the Torys have maxed it out evey year up to the capping limit and as for the pension a full time home carer of which there are not many after 40 years service would have a £6K pension to which they have contributed out of their own money - the average pension in local government is under 4K and the average wage is unde £16K
Posted by: Christine Melsom, Hampshire on 10:41pm Fri 18 Jul 08
For every £1 an employee puts into the pension fund, the tax payer puts £3. If that is not a good deal, what is?
For every £1 an employee puts into the pension fund, the tax payer puts £3. If that is not a good deal, what is?
Posted by: richard bambridge on 4:26pm Mon 21 Jul 08
[bold]None but the most rabid old-school Tory could fail to see that a pay cut for Local Authority staff is grossly unfair. Many council staff are paid little more than the minimum wage. Is it really right that these people should have a pay cut? We see the private sector pay deals averaging over-inflation and the cost of living spiralling. Local Authority workers keep the country functioning for poor pay and poor reward. They deserve more.[/bold]
None but the most rabid old-school Tory could fail to see that a pay cut for Local Authority staff is grossly unfair. Many council staff are paid little more than the minimum wage. Is it really right that these people should have a pay cut? We see the private sector pay deals averaging over-inflation and the cost of living spiralling. Local Authority workers keep the country functioning for poor pay and poor reward. They deserve more. Posted by: Charles Dexter Ward, Waterlooville on 12:22am Wed 23 Jul 08
I fully support the local authority workers. There are many low-paid staff seeing their pay drop year after year. They can't afford to strike, but see no alternative. To see where money is wasted, look at Councillor's allowances and pointless tiers of overpaid managers and consultants. Look at taxpayer's money being siphoned off into shareholders' pockets via privatisation. Don't just believe what the NuLab government tells you. [bold]All[/bold] workers, public or private, should have decent pay, security and pensions. Get off your knees, like UNISON and UNITE members, and fight for them!
I fully support the local authority workers. There are many low-paid staff seeing their pay drop year after year. They can't afford to strike, but see no alternative. To see where money is wasted, look at Councillor's allowances and pointless tiers of overpaid managers and consultants. Look at taxpayer's money being siphoned off into shareholders' pockets via privatisation. Don't just believe what the NuLab government tells you.
All workers, public or private, should have decent pay, security and pensions. Get off your knees, like UNISON and UNITE members, and fight for them!
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