UNIONS WARN OF MORE STRIKES OVER SINGLE STATUS

25-04-2008

Trade unions have threatened more strikes in the wake of yesterday’s two day walkout by Birmingham Council staff unhappy with the new Single Status Pay and Grading offer. But our sources admit that this week’s two day stoppage may have been a tactical error.

On Wednesday, the first day of the action, there was evidence that support for the dispute was faltering.

Although 60 schools and the majority of neighbourhood offices were closed, the level of disruption was less significant that the unions had hoped for.

Fewer than 4,000 staff joined in, compared to more than 9,000 in February – and only one of the city’s four refuse depots was completely closed (see link here).

By yesterday, the bin men had stiffened their resolve, closing down the "tips" at both Perry Barr and Lifford Lane and the number of strikers grew - joining in with teachers and other public sector colleagues for a mass rally in Victoria Square (see link here).

One union official admitted: “The issue of two days may have to be looked at. I know people who are so low paid they couldn’t afford to have both days off. These are people who are paid weekly and have bills coming in.”

But the official insisted that there was still an appetite for the battle and that future strikes in specific areas of the Council such as Neighbourhood Offices are being considered:

"Our strategy is that we hope the Council will come to us," they said.

"Until now, they've always said the door is open, but they want us to go to them.  Why shouldn't they come to us for once?

"The next step is for groups of workers to take legal action, because they weren't properly consulted over changes to their contracts, and that's already under way.

"We'll also be considering selective action in places like Neighbourhood Offices and schools where there's a lot of support."

Was the two-day strike a mistake? Leave a comment on The Stirrer Forum.