By Pauline WE CLOSED DOWN the boroush!" exclaimed UNISON's Assistant Branch Secretary, Sonya Dakin 4,000 angry Council workCouncil in walkouts attacks on terms and conditions on December 7, 13 and 14.
UNISON, the TGWU and the GMB worked closely together to co-ordinate the The dispute began with the Single Status agreement to equalise the pay structure, ICE BRED and conditions for grades. Haringey agrecd to mo nennoe s.ouk 9. put any money astac to do so, instcaa tyls to use it to make cuts.
Haringev also has an ongodeb: problem with make Alexandra Palace - in the red to the tune of over £80 miland the atest cuts arc part of a repayment plan.
Cutbacks
The cuts include a reducnity leave and a number of OuICH Catacacu, casing low pay allowance of around £600 a year and moring the pay date.
Also, sick pay would not be paid for the first two days' sickness, reminiscent of a JARVIS PL.C NOT wanted Management intimidation failed to pretent a solid strike on December 7. SmeTac n Cou cil chiefs in Wadsworth, workers struck November.
The concil also threatened that, if we did not accept these cuts, they would the unsons tear up our contracts and the us sign HECW. WOrSe the cuts.
The intimidation failed to prevent a solid strike on December 7. All council services were either shut or running on a minimal service, Bosie same libraries and leisure JUCHE Managers The lights were out at the Civic Centre. Only a tiny number of senior officials crossed the picket lines out- propaganda. side every building. The press were nable to contact Ing wild IOR SEST E TH: ( CREME NOA the Council because press and pulled out of the strike. officers were also on strike. This appears to be part of an The council made use of its attempt by the GMB officials expensive new IT equipment to take over the local branch. (£24 million worth) to email This has backfired though, every employee saying that as rank and file GMB memwere lying and bers have joined UNISON or council wasn't agreeing Despite the Contradictory 14 and 15 December, was just wo emails, one from the as solid, if not more so, than leader of the council and the the first. other from the chiet executive, contradicted cach other. Police arrived at the Ashleigh Road depot at 4 am to Unions do not have quite the cauce pickets down lo o, so IT 8663 lu cuasy that strike breakers (who by historical ( were also Hackney Council employees instructed to hold meetings but also TGWU could get into the yard and take the dustcarts out.
Sadly, after the first day, the GMB held a separate meet- for officials, including other local unions, and teachers parcuts schools, and other members of the public, including signatures on petitions, donations to our hardship funds, collections and particIDAROD mccunxs Labour says no! Tottenham Constituency declared opposition to the cuts. Haringey Trades Council organised a public meetWECHHUCE support of the council workUNISON has played a key anti-Pli cam paign in local schools, and speakers from the campaign adressed the meeting.
Trade unionists country) recognise have taken. Donations GMB's role, messages of support come from branches inside and outside London and from trade unsonists including the NUT, the NUJ and the LivThe Council has anomaly SBC COCUS agreed to put El million next year's budget to fund members), singic status. ncy nave nor agreed savings on terms and budget. However, since the strikes oeganl, lucy nave aiso issued notices. At UNISON branch meeting on 13 January, a large motion was passed agrecing conn eos paign, • to ballot key workers for 3170 all-out indefinite HULPPE • to initiate a levy of all members of 50p to El per month to provide thancial assistance to key workers, COnte with a rolling programme of strike day strike on the first day of for branch officers to avoid compulsory redundancies, and to ensure the withdrawal by the Council of any attempis to across introduce changes to our terms and conditions the employment as part of the budget making process for and have Branch oficers will report the outcome to members. other made signifiScant gains, and our relationTGWU has SAlO been consolidated. Workers' spirits have been litted. We made now feel our strength. They have Usages of support to UNISON, Parade, Green Lanes, London N4 IAG. Tel: 0181-211 0558, Fax 0181-880 1429, Minicom 0181-800 9741.
Outlook NO NURSES.