DELAY erry Smith - OF 11A11 4 sell-out? That's the question to he answered in any verdiet on the pay offer to iwo million local gorernment workCo i me ones strike action across the counry on july 17.
*Half a victory' misht be the view of those who focus primarily on the fact that a grudging, tight-fisted bunch of employers were forced to improve their "fina!". and concede an ACAS-brotime will bring a minimum wage of over £5 per hour for the lowest-naid council stall.
They will of course still be low paid, and the 3.5% offer Tor olach OR SCH falls far short of the 6% demanded by the unions as a means of redressing. long-term injustice of pay far behind other comparable groups of workers.
Bura deal whicwold raise the pay of up to 275,000 vorkers by around s0p per hour - giving many of them increases of s20 week OF UNISON ON STRIKE IN GATESHEAD half a sell-our. "LOW PN The OHaSceyeu deliver as strong 2004 should not be brushed aside as insignificant or an than on July i7. outright will be worth almost 11%, while the increase for other ers by grades will De just over 3.379 per year, compared with a previous offer of 3%.
Already it scems that the example militant the council bosses. staff and the achierement of the SS minimum has helped to encourage at other group of public sector ancillary staff to take will allow tempers action on similar demands.
posilive be for strike action finally to show some positive That is no accident: union strength of the turnpen. It is hard to avoid and the mood oi the showed that hree main unions UNISON. ate to get off the hook, and GMB and TGWU have the find a pretext to settle with potential to force a signifi- employers: cantly better deal than the chips were down, it was the bureaucracy SCENC ment. Another day of strike action had been planned for Some have been were convinced they would that there is no guarantee that more stronger support that day deliver a oclice they will have their fingers Squeeze COSE aE s ws Huk put to the test.
The old motto "when you Indeed the biggest obstacle know you've got the employto further improving the deal the vitals, by renewed action is that fact squceze" sugests that hac that national union bureauunion national officials kept their nerve they might have promoting the current deal, forced more money out of and would therefore have little credibility Instead they suspended the renewed charge. action for six weeks, while a UNISON is also stressing "consultation" process takes the significance of the new place: these six weeks (con- Commission cluding on September 16) Government Pay, the estabto cool lishment of crank up any further rounds included as part of the set tlement, and of action - even it a majonty offer a platform for raising a view in the three unions favours further action. Wi0e and issues which otherwise remain neglected. this will be more than a talking shop designed to take the steam demands. Opposition It is hard to predict the outcome of the since the vocal opposition Greg Tucker The thought of a leadership team of Bob Crow and Pat Sikorski has been a nightmare hunting the RMT righe wing for some yews. Desoite twc attempts by the leadership in the last four years to ban him Trom standing in afry electons Par Sikorski has now succeeded in being elected as Assätant General Secreeary of the union. Mist all sorts of questions remain to be answered and the balance of forces is by no the c'rection of the union is undengoing a lgnilicant shilt. cc te tns was cear at the sons Annun General Meeting Taking a lead WCC dICT from Bob Crow, the conferHence avcoo to cucio aulauon to the Labour Party to a bare minimum. le confirmed a chirote in is sponsorship of that MPs - away from sponsoring the constituency parties of a officers group of MPs, many in the top quick to argue anks of the governmene, who strikes could support union policy - towards have consistently refused to supporting the campaigning activides of another group of MPs who have the temerity to actually agree with what the union stands for. But significantty the confer. to prepare rule changes to be broughe forward next year to aw r nan nons orta executive nationally to finanleading cially support other "socialise"
organisations. At the industrial level, Pat has taken responsibility for the Local union's main train operating companies. The Arriva Trains which Northern strike continues -still going strong after sevenwhich may teen days. London Underground workers are of anomalic. being balloted over pay. And concrete moves are now being taken to produce a stater to national pay bargaining. Next month representatives from every train operating company are to be brought together to discuss how the union can unify all pay claims. with common tim etables and linked daims, with the aim of forcing the TOCs into one national bargaining system.
Tons suc carus fraughe with difficulties it is clear already that - this time around - the union leadersie is willing to fight for our comanos, ano nos juss pay them lip service.
In addition, plans by RMT train crew safery issues have moved forward dramatically, Over the last five years there has been a consistent battle over the aery kule Book lad down by the Railtrack safety division, now officially independent as "Railway Safety"
Having succeeded in diminishing the safety role of train guards, Railway Safety was forced to review its actions last year A review of RMT proposals by a truly independent group of safety consulcants has con. firmed the union's position that the majority of the Rules changed should be restored to mer onsa tonu, out non Railway Safety has reneged on is promise to abide by the The RMT is calling on every TOC to support the union in demanding Railway Safety honour its commitment. Failure to Industrial action leading to the prospect of a national train crew sinke in late autumn.
Under new leadership the union is throwing its full weight behind this campaign.
6% PArRiSE FOR SERVICE
Workers DUR
ONDERGROUN NOT FORSALE