STRIKERS PREPARE FOR RALLY... AS SUPPORT CRUMBLES

24-04-2008

Thousands of Birmingham Council workers and other trade unionists are expected in Victoria Square this lunchtime for a rally in protest against the Pay and Grading Review…but evidence from the first day of a 48-hour stoppage suggests support for the dispute is crumbling.

The rally, which starts at noon, is likely to be boosted by the presence of teachers, Job Centre staff and other striking workers on a day of widespread public sector unrest.

That won’t disguise the fact that the Single Status confrontation – certainly on the evidence of the first day – is in danger of fizzling out.

According to Birmingham Council’s official figures, 60 schools were closed and eight 8 partially closed yesterday, compared to 120 to the latest day of action in February. And just 3,973 staff walked out compared to 9,424 previously.

Union officials always recognised that the financial hardship involved in taking two days off work might reduce the effectiveness of the strike. They believe that staff who can only afford to lose one day’s pay are more likely to be off today to coincide with the rally.

But with most of the city’s binmen deciding to cross the picket lines yesterday morning, an important symbolic battle has already been lost (see link here).

Politcally embarrassing pictures of rubbish piling up on the streets – a key feature of the last strike day – appear to have been avoided this time around.

That doesn’t mean the action has been completely ineffective. As well as the schools, 24 out of 30 neighbourhood offices were closed yesterday.

But the unions face a struggle to regain the momentum which, for now at least, seems to be swinging decisively towards management.