VIDEO: 100 council protesters take to streets
HUNDREDS of council workers were today entering the second day
of a national strike which closed schools and grounded the
Torpoint Ferry yesterday.
Up to 2,000 city council workers in Unison and about 600 who
are members of Unite joined the walk-out in protest over
pay.
Members of the GMB union, the other public sector blue collar
union, carried on working.
Refuse collectors, teaching assistants and administrative staff
were among those who stayed at home. About 100 joined a city
centre protest march.
Jeremy Guise, spokesman for Unison in Plymouth, said: “Public
sector workers are angry that they and their families are once
again expected to accept a below inflation wage rise – in
effect a pay cut – at a time when many of the necessities of
life such as food, fuel and housing costs are rising in
price.”
The unions have rejected a 2.45 per cent pay offer which they
say does not match inflation. The Consumer Price Index has
risen to 3.8 per cent.
But Plymouth City Council said its ‘core services’ were not
affected. The Torpoint Ferry was grounded yesterday and will
remain at its moorings except for emergencies today.
Drivers were forced to use the Tamar Bridge or cross on foot,
via the Cremyll Ferry and a special water taxi set up by an
enterprising Torpoint firm.
Some brought bicycles on to the boat – and one man even
travelled on a unicycle.
Three schools closed, including Stoke Damerel Community College
– which sent hundreds of students home at lunchtime because it
was unable to provide dinners. The school will shut at the same
time today. Special schools Longcause in Plympton and Woodlands
in Whitleigh had already said they would close for the two
days.
The city council said only about 10 per cent of yesterday’s
refuse collection rounds were uncollected – affecting
properties in Belliver, Billacombe, Colebrook, Efford, Estover,
Plympton and Thornbury.
Residents were told to take their rubbish back in and wait
until next week’s collection.
Strikers, who are losing two days’ pay, formed picket lines
outside the council depot in Prince Rock and the offices at
Ballard House.
All libraries and swimming pools in Plymouth remained open.
Callington and Liskeard libraries have also closed for both
days, while Lux Park Leisure Centre in Liskeard closed at
2.30pm yesterday and will shut at 3.30pm today.
The city council announced the unions had agreed to maintain
‘life and limb’ services for the most vulnerable in
society.
Bridge and ferry manager David List said there was no major
disruption crossing the bridge.
He added: “Between 7am and 8am the traffic on the bridge was
equivalent to what it was on the bridge and ferry the day
before.
“But the toll and the TamarTag system coped without any
problems.”
Stoke Damerel Community College principal Carol Hannaford said
catering staff, who were not employed by the school, were
joining the strike.
She said children who qualified for a free school meal would be
given a packed lunch and children who could not be looked after
at home could stay in the library under staff supervision.
Mrs Hannaford said: “We recognise that this may cause
inconvenience to many parents and we apologise for this.”
About 100 angry council workers took to the streets of Plymouth
city centre just after 11am.
Teaching assistants, administrative staff, street cleaners and
other workers waved banners and blew whistles as they marched
down Armada Way, around New George Street and Cornwall
Street.
The demonstration briefly stopped traffic on New George Street
but did not cause major disruption during its 20 minutes. The
march ended with a rally in front of the Civic Centre.
60 Comments
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by dusty, plymouth
Saturday, July 19 2008, 5:51PM
“Have read all the comments so far and would say that this is entirely what the govenment wants .This ladies and gentlemen is called divide and conquer .I for one am running out the door to buy a lucky dip for the national lottery ,would stand more of a chance of winning than people of this city standing together.”
by Sally, Plymouth
Saturday, July 19 2008, 1:50PM
“L.E, There were 2 unions on strike, Unison and Unite, GMB voted agaisnt striking. Council workers pay hasn't been frozen for 3 years under Job evaluation, Job evaluation only began last year, the goverment have decided to freeze the pay of all local authority workers. Lots of people also went up through JE and will get all that backdated to October 2007. JE is nothing at all to do with the annual pay increase. Agreed though that council workers have taken a lot of flack not just on here either. I applaud them for standng up for themselves and standing united. And as Aaron has said, there are plenty of jobs being advertised now in the council so why don't all those who think council workers have a good deal apply for them? Aaaron is also correct is stating that the average council employee earns between 14 - 15K a year.
Not a lot really is it.”
by LH, Plymouth
Saturday, July 19 2008, 12:23PM
“Aaron talks a lot of sense. I work in a school. Not in union but there are about 3 unions and it was only UNISON members who were striking. In my school that was 1 person-if it was GMB more would be on strike. Also under the JE we get 0% pay rise now for 3 years and then a MASSIVE pay cut. Don't you think that is a reason to be pretty cheesed off (& scared). The Herald should stop these insults on these pages-its appalling. We do enjoy our jobs and work hard, its the ones at the top you lot should attack-in all areas.Apply for a job in the council, work your way up and then see how you like it when treated like we are. Pension???? Have to pay in to get it - its not FREE-I can't afford to. LONG HOLIDAYS-not me-23 days. OVERTIME PAY-whats that? Support those in any employment and ALL strike to be treated fairly-at least you can. Those who are nasty never say what their circumstances are do they? Stop tarring everyone with same brush. Divided we fall!!”
by Sally, Plymouth
Friday, July 18 2008, 6:36PM
“To Council worker Plymouth.
I think a lot of council workers are muddling the 2 issues of strike and job evaluation. Job evaluation was a goverment directive which all councils had to do across the country & is about fair pay and what people are failing to see (or publicise, is that although some dropped in income many of the lower paid workers, i.e. dinner ladies, carers, etc went up in pay. There is also an appeals process I believe which workers can use. I The strike is about the annual pay rise which is an entirely seperate issue. Pay has not been frozen for 3 years because of job evaluation, it's been frozen by the goverment for all public service employyes. That's why they all went on strike. And for all those of you who have said they are lazy, well, I hope you don't have a disabled child, or elderly mother/granny like I do, because they have been wonderful in their support towards her. I hope they get a fair deal.”
by Sally, Plymouth
Friday, July 18 2008, 6:23PM
“Barry, my understanding is that they all went to lobby a goverment minister at 11am who incidently, failed to turn up claiming she had another urgent appointment”
by Barry, Plymouth
Thursday, July 17 2008, 11:56PM
“Get back to work you selfish ignorant morons.
You are lucky you have a job.”
by brian, Plymouth
Thursday, July 17 2008, 10:28PM
“Sally,Plymouth I was not aware of a limit on the number of pickets i should have checked first I stand corrected But.... they could have stayed longer surely !”
by Gary, Plymouth
Thursday, July 17 2008, 8:07PM
“i certainly don't work for the council, in fact i hate them with a passion after the way they treated me and my family after leaving the army. However I have fairly recently been involved in strike action so i know exactly what a difficult choice it was knowing the immediate financial penalty {loss of pay} and of course any repurcussions you will have to suffer from the management due to the modern bullying style of managing the workforce these days.”
by Aaron, Plymouth
Thursday, July 17 2008, 8:00PM
“There's 29 jobs on the PCC website for you to apply for Claire. Sadly, you have to provide a written application form so I do suspect you might struggle a little. 29 jobs is unheard of... give it a try, be lazy and earn yourself a fortune.”
by Gary, plymouth
Thursday, July 17 2008, 7:59PM
“I would imagine that when the time comes to cut the pay of those that have had their jobs re-evaluated many of them will jump ship, so all you whiners out their that think the grass is greener can get your names down on the list to replace them now.”