Wyre Forest District Council workers confirm strike

12:28pm Friday 27th April 2012 in News Photograph of the Author By William Tomaney

STREET cleaners at Wyre Forest District Council have announced they will go on strike over new working rotas.

The GMB confirmed about 10 staff from the environment maintenance department, based in Green Street, Kidderminster, will walk out on Saturday, Sunday and Bank Holiday Monday, May 5, 6 and 7.

The action will be taken by cleaning operatives and mechanical sweeper drivers, which include street cleaners and road and footpath sweepers in a dispute over changes to their contracts.

From Monday, April 30, employees must work “five out of seven days” which would include Saturday and Sunday, instead of the current Monday to Friday.

The new rota will also see staff working shifts between 6am and 8pm, without receiving “unsociable hours” pay.

Comments(37)

walkerno5 says...
1:38pm Fri 27 Apr 12

I've also heard of council staff (not sure if it's district or county) being forced to take 3 days unpaid leave, or unpaid sick leave if sickness comes first.... is this true? Is this legal? To refuse to pay sick leave to employees for three days is... unbelievable in this day and age.

Employers pulling that kind of trick deserve a proper all-out strike.

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Stephen Brown says...
2:23pm Fri 27 Apr 12

walkerno5

it's true for the county council:
http://www.unisonwor
cestershire.co.uk/wh
atson.html

item number 6

no pay for first 3 days sick, plus 3 days enforced unpaid annual leave.

Union members were not happy but voted to accept it as a temporary measure to avoid more redundancies.

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walkerno5 says...
5:07pm Fri 27 Apr 12

It's an absolute disgrace and should be illegal.

Ripping workers rights away to protect the likes of me from paying an extra bit of council tax this year. Nice. Absolute bag of rudest word imaginables.

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Sam1983 says...
6:10pm Fri 27 Apr 12

It's called statutory sick and it is what millions of private sector workers such as myself have to put up with. In order to qualify for payment you have to have the first 3 days unpaid then £85.85 a week.

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Stephen Brown says...
6:55pm Fri 27 Apr 12

Sam1983 - indeed - but that doesn't make it acceptable or right in the private sector either.

Especially when those at the top have seen rises in pay/conditions way outstripping those at the bottom by a hug margin; meaning the gap is wider now than at any time in the last 40 years. This in the context of an economy still in the top 6 of the world and those who are at the top of it seemingly immune from the current recession. The pain is most definitely not being shared in my opinion.

The cuts agenda has been seized upon by the right to further erode pay and conditions (private and public sector) when the real problem is economic inequality at all levels national and international. And we don't hear much from governments anywhere about sorting that out as all they seem to do is want to serve the rich and their multinational paymasters who are creating this situation in the first place.

I think the fact that people are less inclined to join or form unions or take collective action because of successive government policy, media brainwashing (aka Murdoch) ....and plain fear, has helped lead to a worsening of the conditions for some of the lowest paid workers leading to a feeling of helplessness to be able to change anything.

Which is why we get the whole public versus private sector arguments aimed at dumbing things down even further and driving a wedge between such workers.

It's all about financial power - those at the top have it and we at the bottom don't. And until peope realise they can change things through collective action it won't change.

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Frank Owen says...
12:26am Sat 28 Apr 12

How coincidental, they choose a Bank Holiday weekend to walk out on!

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Cynical Sid says...
10:23am Sat 28 Apr 12

Fancy being asked to work weekends eh? The streets only ever get dirty between 9 - 5 and only between Mon - Fri.

Bone idle people. I'm sure there are plenty of others out there who would jump at the chance of employment.

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Mary79 says...
11:12am Sat 28 Apr 12

cynical sid calls them bone idle, well he'd know because he's so bone idle he can't even read the report properly so comes out with his usual daily mail opinionated rubbish.

Where does it say they are refusing to work weekends? It says they are in dispute over changes to their contracts...and here's the giveaway to the dispute.....the final sentence says they are not receiving "unsociable hours" pay.

And for the benefit of cynical sid, the unsociable hours pay would probably cover having to work longer days and weekends which they never used to work. So they are probably not refusing to work those shifts, they just want to be paid properly for the enforced changes to their contracts to compensate them.

But then again people like cynical sid probably just think workers should take any old sh*t employers throw at them and smile because there are always 'plenty of others who would jump at the chance of employment' .....and presumably be happy to be treated like sh*t. Which is why the rich get richer and the poor get poorer.

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HowardM says...
11:59am Sat 28 Apr 12

This is a consequence of the Tory budget cuts that Campion assured us would not effect front line services! All the cuts would be "back office" promised John. Again he misled us! Nothing is more "front line" than street cleaning. The consequence is that instead of a 5 day week with overtime for extra hours, overtime is cut and staff are re-rota'd to work Saturday and Sunday with no extra pay, plus any hours the council chose between 6am and 8pm with the unsocial hour payment withdrawn. It is the Council screwing as much out of its workers for as little as it can get away with. Disgusting! The Councils mission statement is "Delivering More for Less" but treating your employees as wage slaves was not what was initially intended - or was it? This Tory administration is past its sell by date - it throws millions at posh offices - cuts staff to the bone - screws every pound of flesh out of those it retains and expects us all to accept it. You have a choice this week that can help to start the change - use it, VOTE and don't think your vote won't count. Some of us are listening and some of us care.

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Cynical Sid says...
12:06pm Sat 28 Apr 12

"From Monday, April 30, employees must work “five out of seven days” which would include Saturday and Sunday, instead of the current Monday to Friday."

Seems obvious to me they don't work weekends and where exactly does it say they are working longer hours? Hardly ‘unsocial able’

If people don't like what food is on their plate then simply get something else. Simple.

Having seen the state of this dilapidated, run down, filthy town they call Kidderminster on a weekend, it’s a move I welcome. Anyway if I had it my way, I would frog march the criminal underclass and the mighty unwashed that attend Kidderminster court every day, make them wear bright orange overalls and make them scrub the town.

Anyway, back to work for me – how un socialable is that!

Love & Kiss's Sid

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Gobby Robby says...
12:58pm Sat 28 Apr 12

Sun reading Sid says "If people don't like what food is on their plate then simply get something else. Simple". Blimey another Uriah Heep impersonator round here. Sid is so humble he thinks everyone should be the working class Tory he so obviously is. Don't fight for your right just keep your humility in front of your betters because that's the way life should be. Be like Sid, accept what you've got and never dare challenge your social superiors.

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Mary79 says...
2:38pm Sat 28 Apr 12

So, they used to work outside of monday to friday 9 to 5 and get paid for the extra hours which were presumably voluntary in some way so they could earn extra pay?

Now they have been told they MUST (must = having no choice cynical sid) work those hours on a rota for no extra pay, meaning they have had a enforced change in contract.

No wonder they are annoyed.

As for the question about unsocial hours, in my opinion, anything outside of 9 to 5 monday to friday should be considered unsociable and attract a better rate of pay.

Just because everyone has been brainwashed into accepting a 24 hour consumer culture does not make it all of a sudden 'sociable' to work evenings or weekends. That is another ruse of the rich to force us to accept pay cuts and worse conditions so that they can maximise profit on two levels - in our own pay packet and when we spend that reduced pay in their shops - but that's ok according to cynical sid because it seems he is happy being taken for a mug.

People still have families they want to spend time with in the evenings and weekends and the loss of that is unsociable and should be compensated.

Playing devils advocate here, would people like cynical sid consider familiy time is just the sort of activity that helps social cohesion? And without that things start to break down and we get anti-social activity like crime? What about church on sundays which people don't go to now because they are all out working or shopping? What do you say sid?

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Cynical Sid says...
8:18pm Sat 28 Apr 12

Cant really be bothered to reply with anything to be honest. Just got back home from work (Sat 8am - 8pm). Hey ho, back tomorrow at 8am so no church for me! Or better rate of pay for that matter.

PS. Cant remember the last time I went out being anti-social or commiting crime because I work weekends/nights.

Back to reading the Mail & The Sun ...Bye

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HowardM says...
12:17pm Sun 29 Apr 12

The point is all Council employees have contracts of employment which set out the hours and times to be worked - this includes details of overtime and unsocial hours payments. The Council want to change the contract terms for their benefit - the Unions after discussions, have rejected the changes, which they have a right to do under employment law. Therefore the Council intend to impose the changes anyway - there is case law in Employment Tribunals which suggest that this is breach of contract by the Council. Since the Unions are being bullied by the Tory administration into accepting this they have voted to strike! It is a little difficult to see what other action was open to them when such appalling management thugery is being adopted by this inept, incompetant, Tory leadership. Shame on you.

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Casey27 says...
8:01pm Sun 29 Apr 12

This Conservative controlled Wyre Forest District Council are attacking front line low paided - dedicated street cleansing personal. They are taking away unsociable payments from some staff who work late evenings and Saturdays which amounts to a 10% reduction in their pay, which in this climate no one can afford to lose. On the 30th April, when all cleansing staff are moved onto a Rota system of 6 days on, 3 days off to include Saturdays and Sundays working covering the hours of 6am to 9pm in the summer time and 6am to ?pm in winter times with NO unsociable hours payments. No payments as recognised in the National Agreements (Green Book), well frankly its taking the p*ss! This 'Tory lead' council has spent £10.5 million pound on a new luxurious office block which Joe Public didnt want, then they say we have got a million pound to improve the Wyre Forest area..... what a joke! The councillors then increase their allowances. The Cheif Executives on £150,000 plus and they then snatch £1500 pound from a low paid street cleaner, then tell us that we are all in it together. The bullies are justifying there existence, roll on the 3rd of May!!! Get them out, Keep them out!!!

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Gobby Robby says...
10:48pm Sun 29 Apr 12

Cynical Sid seems to be implying he works 12 hours a day, 7 days a week. Surprised the Council don't ask him to do the job for free in his spare time as he's clearly happy to be taken for a mug (as Mary quite rightly says).

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kidderlord says...
11:51pm Sun 29 Apr 12

OF COURSE cynical sid works all those hours - its hard work being a full time PRAT.

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kidderlord says...
11:51pm Sun 29 Apr 12

OF COURSE cynical sid works all those hours - its hard work being a full time PRAT.

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oldmanbewdley says...
11:54pm Sun 29 Apr 12

Shame the traffic wardens won't go on strike too!

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nicky.griffiths says...
9:12pm Mon 30 Apr 12

The point is they are having to change their contracts because they have made so many street scene staff redundant they can't do the work required with the number of staff left. Our street is no longer swept at all - we are doing it ourselves. I suggest Cynical Sid volunteers to spend a day with one of the street cleaners starting at 6.00 am and finishing at 8.00 pm on a Sunday and then see if he feels the same.

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Cynical Sid says...
10:12pm Mon 30 Apr 12

nicky.griffiths …”Our Street is no longer swept at all - we are doing it ourselves” How commendable but reality is you don’t. Which street is it?

How come I saw a ‘street cleaner’ on Sunday morning in Kidderminster town centre? On overtime by any chance?

Ooo-err Striking because they are taking away overtime. Get real.

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Mary79 says...
11:07pm Mon 30 Apr 12

I really wish cynical sid was good to his word and 'can't be bothered' to reply because he never adds anything of any value.

A worker who hates other workers who stand up for themselves because he has no bottle to do it for himself.

Cuckoo cuckoo cuckoo.

Is he really a working class tory in need of revelation or a forum troll for our local tory party?

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Aw8093 says...
10:19am Wed 2 May 12

Ny husband works 9am-11pm most days.. some days without a break as his a chef.... welcome to the real world guys... now i bet they would be oaning if we shut all pubs at 5 pm as its unsociable hours and my husband doesnt get extra pay for this..!!

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walkerno5 says...
10:49am Wed 2 May 12

@ Aw8093, so your husband has a job where his conditions break the law? Nice. Is he happy with that? Why doesn't he leave, he could easily get a huge payout for unfair dismissal with those working conditions.

The working conditions at your husbands place of work sound truly awful, and we will I'm sure all stand shoulder to shoulder with him to get him important improvements and concessions.

Now, would you prefer that we all try and work together to improve employment conditions, or that we all join in a race to the bottom to please the rich?

What the hell happened to us? How do we educate people to take control? We speak of freedom yet act like slaves jealous of those who complain of their beatings. "Shut up and take it" is the prevailing attitude.

Try this on for size; interns work long hours, for no money. Does this mean, since someone is prepared to work at that price, that no-one should ever be paid for working? That is the argument as you essentially frame it.

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HowardM says...
1:29pm Thu 3 May 12

Well said walkerNo5 - I joined a union in 1968 and am now a life member. I was an activist most of that time and held full time, national office for 15 years. The reason was to collectively work for the wider good of employees to be treated fairly at work. The thugish treatment of those employers who act like WFDC in this matter is "bullying" by any name and treats people as wageslaves on the principle "you are lucky to have a job - if you dont like it leave - there are 20 out there for every one who goes!" Good luck to this action - these employees deserve respect from their employer and to be treated much better than they are.

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Aw8093 says...
1:42pm Thu 3 May 12

Yes i will give him your advice to leave his job... when he may not get another to sit on his arse all day and claim through the system.... the aim of my comment was to say the are many people who work without unsociable hours pay.....

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Saintinexile says...
2:14pm Thu 3 May 12

Would all you union supporters be happy if the WFDC increased council tax to pay for the unsociable hours pay and premium pay...or would you all then start bleating about that too? , and how about all you council workers .. would you like to go shopping/to the pub/for a meal/to the cinema etc. and discover that all the prices have been increased by10% to pay for the unsocial hours/premium payments that people like me in the retail industry don't get . Lets face it.. if the food retailers went on strike then that would REALLY be a problem . .the next time you run out of milk on a sunday show your support for the underpaid and offer to give them the extra 10% as you hand over your money at the till.. when that happens the rest of us will be happy to give a **** about public sector gripes

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walkerno5 says...
3:12pm Thu 3 May 12

I would gladly pay 15-20% more in council tax than I currently do. I'm very fortunate to be able to afford this, and appreciate that an increase across the board like that would really hurt some people.

Freeze the lowest two bands, increase the top band by 30% and spread through the rest.

Why do people who are fully aware of what Bob Diamond earned last year still complain about low earners wanting a fair shake? Seriously people, it's not you against them, it's the rich against both of you.

Wake the hell up.

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Saintinexile says...
3:48pm Thu 3 May 12

I have no complaints about low earners wanting a fair shake and I am certainly not against workers rights....but, come on....whoever heard of overworked council workers . They want to try an average 11 hour day like some of us have to contend with(including Sat & Sun) so that we have some sort of quality in our lives. I sometimes think that council workers (of all depts) don't know how lucky they are

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Jerome K says...
3:54pm Thu 3 May 12

You have to wonder about some people. "if the food retailers went on strike then that would REALLY be a problem" - yes, so if Tesco workers are badly treated & underpaid when those at the top are raking in millions they should strike. Sadly the English were beaten by Thatcher and have lost all ability to stand up for themselves, just against each other. For the record i'd gladly pay a bit more in Council Tax.

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Saintinexile says...
4:11pm Thu 3 May 12

Jerome K you miss the point... Have a walk or drive around. The street cleaners go on strike....who the hell will notice the difference?

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Saintinexile says...
4:17pm Thu 3 May 12

This is not about them being badly treated or underpaid. This is about a change in contract, and I would wager that the terms of the new contract incorporate some sort of compensation for the loss in premium payments by way of increased hourly rate , so that they are not really losing out . .just joining the modern world where a fair days pay is the result of a fair days work

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walkerno5 says...
5:27pm Thu 3 May 12

Let me fix that for you "the modern world where an unfair days pay is the result of an unfair days work”

After all, you are alleging that it is necessary to work 77 hours a week to get "some sort of quality" in your life, and seem to accept that this should be so.

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Jon D says...
5:45pm Thu 3 May 12

I agree with Jerome. Thatcher's great victory was to indoctrinate the British worker (or many of them) that there is no alternative to working longer for less. We are worth so much as a country nobody needs to work a 77 hour week for some sort of quality of life. The only people gaining from this exploitation are the shareholders & the bosses. Sadly there are too many working class Tories happy to give their hard earned cash away to the undeserving rich.

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Saintinexile says...
6:01pm Thu 3 May 12

I never stated that I worked 77 hours a week.. I said that I worked, on average, 11 hours a day. Fortunately I do not work 7 days a week. Oh and John D please do not get the wrong impression of me. I come from as red a background as anyone in this country and proudly watched my father on the local news as he carried the banner for his local branch of the NUM during the miners strike. You don't have to be a tory to have a work ethic.

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neilhar says...
8:35pm Thu 3 May 12

Well where is your placard then Saint?

The points being made by John D and Walker no5 are about us joining together to fight the system. not rolling over while they tickle your soft underbelly.

We, the public need to start standing together. public n private sector. we all being treated like sh*t just the same. Their purpose is to divide and rule. Even Ken Livingstone's book was entitled 'If voting changed anything they'd abolish it' and we keep letting them get away with it.

The time for people power is with us. We should take the opportunities to enact the required change.

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HowardM says...
12:05pm Fri 4 May 12

@saintinexile - firstly the council wont have to increase council tax to pay EXTRA money - they are already paying that money - they want workers to change their working arrangements to be more flexible to cover staff cuts (which has already made savings) by taking a cut in income. So council win, twice and employees lose, twice!
The staff cuts are being covered, because they cant now keep up with the extra work, by changed working practices for less money. In another area of council I sometimes get emails from officers at 9.00 at night because they are putting the extra hours in to cover the cuts for no extra pay - it isnt sustainable in the long term!
And we'll see just what state Stourport Riverside is in on Monday night after 3 days without being cleaned shall we? Then you might just understand exactly how hard these people work!

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