Socialist Party Wales Socialism In Wales
By John Williams and Dave Reid
Unite members at Cardiff council have started a two-week strike on 4 September which will be followed by a three week strike starting on 25 September unless the council agrees to an increase in pay. Council workers in Unite are also striking in Wrexham and will soon be followed by Gwynedd.
However, there’s a lot of anger that GMB members weren’t even balloted for strike action in Wales, and while Unison members in Wales voted 81% in favour for strike action, they didn’t meet the undemocratic 50% turnout threshold. But overall, union members have rejected the offer of a £1,925 rise.
Unite says this would mean a pay rise of between 4% and 9%, well below the real level of inflation. Over the past 12 years, these workers have had a real-terms pay cut of 24%. So in reality, that’s a pay cut of 24% with the offer not bridging that gap. Most workers would not even see a 9% rise. All the unions involved are calling for a 12.5% pay increase.
Cardiff council workers on strike are pledging to struggle on until a better offer is put forward. And there are some harrowing stories from the bin workers’ picket lines of the effect of poverty pay being implemented by a ‘Labour’ council. “I know someone who uses 45% of their pay packet on childcare. People with kids and a mortgage, it’s not enough to live on… We’ve been told the bosses aren’t backing down.
Struggling
“They’ve been saying we’ve been offered 9% but we haven’t. I know someone who works here who didn’t have any money for food. His wife was laid off. I had to buy him a Greggs. Everything’s going up, some people like me aren’t struggling but I’m coming out for those who are.”
There is also anger that management bullying in the Cardiff waste department which the council promised to address after a strike last year. And Agency workers still have to wait four years before being taken on on permanent contracts.
A rally was also organised in conjunction with the residents’ group to say “no to shit pay”. At the rally, workers explained how elected representatives who are implementing poverty pay are “part of the problem” and whose actions are forcing workers to go to food banks.
Why should trade unions give political and financial backing to councillors who are members of their union but are using their elected positions to implement poverty pay?
Unite suspended Coventry Labour councillors for doing just that, and it’s now union policy to not give backing to councillors who pass on cuts.
Cardiff socialists will continue to support these striking workers, and we will fight to build a political alternative so council workers get the pay they need, as well as deserve.
