Increased support for council strike

Apr 25 2008 By Neil Elkes and Jessie Matthews

SUPPORT for the all out strike by council workers increased for yesterday's second day of action after what union bosses admitted was a slow start.

More workers, including binmen at three of four council depots, downed tools closing more offices, libraries and leisure centre and leaving black bags piled by the road side.

It was the latest strike over a new pay and grading system which will see up to 5,000 people take salary cuts.

The disruption was further increased as 250 city schools plus sixth form colleges, were hit by industrial action by the National Union of Teachers and University and College Union over national pay awards.

More than 1,500 banner and placard wielding union members gathered in yesterday lunchtime’s rain storms for a joint rally by the teaching, council and civil service unions.

They shook off the rain as a folk band led protest songs and chants between rallying speeches from union leaders on the stage.

One group of £14,000 per year administrators from the Shared Services department were angry at losing about £2,000 a year each.

"We are low paid women workers and cannot afford this," one said.

English teacher David Room said: "We don’t want to be on strike, the Government has left us no choice."

RE teacher Juliet Daies added: "Each year our pay depreciates while the cost of living is rising."

Drummers also led a march by striking teachers through the city centre as they chanted their demand for fair pay.

The increase in support for the council action was attributed to staff not affording to lose two days’ pay and bouyed union leaders as they gathered in Victoria Square for the rally.

Unison branch secretary Caroline Johnson, referring to the decision by many binmen to work on Wednesday, called for staff to stand firm in the dispute.

She said: "We all need to be unified in this action. The workers at the Perry Barr depot are back out on strike because they want to stand with us."

She added that union officials will be taking a strong show of support to their next round of talks with council bosses on Tuesday.

Unison organiser Tony Rabaiotti said: "We know there were 50 per cent less people turning up to city centre offices today, three out of the four refuse depots were shut and more than 200 schools. This is a better day for us."

NUT organiser Roger King said: "It is not our intention to disrupt pupils’ education and the lives of their parents in having to make childcare arrangements, but unfortunately that is the consequence of having to take strike action. We feel we have no choice."