by Keith Richmond
As talks to try to settle the refuse collectors’ strike in Leeds continued this week, the GMB and Unison promised they would not let the strikers “be starved into submission” and, after each putting another £25,000 into the strike fund, vowed: “Nothing can prevent us from prosecuting this dispute until we win – we will be here until Christmas, if need be.”
Six hundred council workers walked out on September 7 over plans by the Lib Dem/Conservative run council to slash salaries – typically from £18,000 to £12,000 – as part of a “modernisation” programme.
The council says it has to re-grade refuse collectors, street cleaners and litter pickers – and cut their pay to that of school dinner staff, who are mainly women – to bring it into line with equal pay law. Richard Brett, the council leader, said: “The changes will come into effect in January 2011 and save the council £1.7 million.”
Paul Kenny, general secretary of the GMB, retorted: “You don’t equalise pay down, you equalise pay up.”
The unions fear the dispute may be a taste of what is to come under a Conservative government. Disgruntled public sector workers will not, union officials stress, simply roll over and accept swingeing pay cuts, job losses and changes in working patterns being planned by David Cameron.
Colin Burgon, Labour MP for Elmet, said: “We need to make connections at local and national level because the storm is coming.”
Keith Allen and his 12-piece band are playing a benefit gig for the strikers, “Refuse To Be Beat”, at the Leeds O2 Academy this Sunday (October 18).
