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Strikes set to shut schools
Tuesday 15th July 2008, 3:15PM BST.
Dozens of council services across Shropshire are set to grind to a halt over the next two days as workers strike over their latest pay offer.
A total of 14 schools will be forced to close because of the action by members of unions Unison and Unite.
Rhyn Park School and Performing Arts College in St Martins and Severndale School and Mount Pleasant Junior School, in Shrewsbury, are among those affected.
The local government workers – including teaching assistants, cleaners, care assistants, and social workers – are protesting over a 2.45 per cent pay offer.
They claim members, many of whom are among the lowest-paid Government workers, will be left worse off because the increase would be below inflation.
Jonathan Sedgebeer, Unison’s Telford branch secretary, said: “This action follows 10 years of under-inflation wage rises, while the price of petrol and groceries has gone through the roof.”
Shropshire County Council will shut all its day care facilities and its school library service and community care mobile library. Some school meals services could be affected and 14 libraries and Community First points will be shut for one or both days.
The county council has also cancelled all external meetings and is closing its Shirehall headquarters in Shrewsbury to the public.
Telford & Wrekin Council and Shropshire County Council are publishing lists on their websites detailing all the affected services and schools.
North Shropshire District Council is also warning residents some of its services may be affected.
Staff at the council hope services like refuse collection will be able to continue within its normal timetable, and that its offices in Wem, and the main swimming pools in Market Drayton and Whitchurch will be able to run as normal, although there may be some changes.
Councillor David Minnery, council leader, said: “I can assure residents and customers the council will do everything within its power to ensure the disruption to services is minimal during the proposed strike action this week.
“We are here to provide vital services to our customers and would prefer to maintain existing standards.”
By Jo Cunningham
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i guess it shows how much work they really do when they are not there hey?
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pay can’t be that bad if they can afford 2 days off !!
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Workers in private sector are going to get below 2% pay rises due to credit crunch. What gives public sector workers the right to strike over a 2.45% payrise and inconvience members of the public?
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what a waste of time! they get enough money as it is.
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Any excuse for a couple of days off, they won’t miss the money because they have to many free days anyway
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Come on get a grip the children need education and if you feel you are underpaid well fair enough but why should the children suffer for it – there must be a way that this can be solved with out striking, also what about the parents they have jobs to go to, to support their children financial and this will cause parents problems with needing to find childcare. More so for the disabled children who get alot out of interacting with other children and it gives their parents or carers a bit of well needed respite. Come On Shropshire Education Dept give them a pay rise that I am sure they deserve and stop this stupid situation.
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they are quite right to strike with inflation at 3.8% and 5% by christmas, they deserve at least another 1%. when fat cats like adam crozier post office boss gets a £ million pay deal, small wonder council workers want a little more than 2.45%,from a trade unionist
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I run my own company, and haven’t had a pay rise in years.
There have been several times when I haven’t been able to draw any pay at all!
THAT is the real economic world out there!
And I can’t go on strike, or even take “regular” holidays, because the business comes first.
VAT, suppliers, taxes, and overheads in general ALL come first before I can pay myself out of any profit thats left!
I really think that it would do all these guys good to work for themselves for a while – and see just what it’s like to be really responsible for finding your own pay packet!
I have to say that If I had my way – no one would “have a job” – you would only get paid for the work you do – i.e: don’t turn up for work ? -then no pay!
That is: Just like most business owners have to operate!
We’d soon seen a rise in efficiency then !
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try working in a school then you have a right to make a comment
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dont blame them they earn a pittance, everyone else gets better pay rises, why should key workers suffer?
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teachers etc do get low pay i accept for all the qualifications they have BUT they get cushy hours, and leave and a good pension (which is rare for all but the rich these days) So if you want more money go to the private sector but be prepared for some 60 hour weeks
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@All,
1 It isn’t teachers on strike, it’s council workers and school support staff. That’s why (mainly) the schools that are closed are the ones which need lots of non-teaching staff to deal with pupils with special needs, like Severndale Special School.
2 It’s a national dispute – Neither Council Managers nor Councillors have anything to do with the size of the pay rise.
3 Yes, Unison could have given an expemption to school staff – but would you have even noticed the strike if they had? Or would you have been happy for the home care staff who look after your elderly neighbours to have low wages and no recognition?
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I agree with askeric dotcom, I also run my own business and am the last to get paid – especially after the public service workers – who always seem to be on strike for more pay and (even) better working conditions.
If I am sick I might well lose my business – and home. When a public service employee is sick he may not even lose a pay cheque.
IF things are that tough take another job or start a business – or is that too much like hard work for the nine-to-five proletarians with four week’s vacation plus Saturdays and Sundays off?
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I also run my own business but couldn’t disagree more with the sentiments of other business owners on here.
By running your own business you accept that when times are hard you tighten your belt and when times are good you reap the rewards. That is you choice.
Not everybody has the acumen to successfully run a business. Those who take jobs in the public sector are not expecting to reap the rewards of successful business, but they are asking for their moderate wages to increase inline with inflation.
Not too much to ask is it?
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Serotonin:
I was wondering when someone would make the point about whether you have the “acumen” (or just be clever enough??) to run your own business!
Are you saying that these public sector workers are lacking in these “magic skills” to do something creative for themselves ??
I think not!! – That is – they are quite capable!!
Running a business in most cases doesn’t require an IQ sufficient to join MENSA, nor does it require any special skill – other than those skills which you are going to trade with, …… which you would/should have anyhow as a paid employee doing the “same things /using the same skills” for “an employer”.
BUT: what running a business DOES need is a belief in what you do, and be ready to acquire new skills as your business requires them, such as basic book keeping, sales techniques, appreciation of marketing etc ……..
not much different from being in a job really!!! – is it ???
Yes – IF you are successful, you will make money, and a very very small number make a lot.
BUT, for the vast majority of businesses, we don’t make a lot of money, and in fact don’t pay ourselves much either
- ask ANY new business how much they pay themselves – The answer would shock most “employees”, infact …… they probably wouldn’t believe it (being so small)
SO, WHY should WE BE EXPCECTED to tighten out belts, when the going gets tough, whilst……..
…..public sector workers who have guaranteed pay packets, good paid holidays, sick pay schemes, good pension funds and little stress other than that than directly related to performing the duties they are paid to do………
go on strike ?
The FACT IS – we CAN’T – and I would like to see all those workers being subjected to the same “demands” that we are, and then see how they react.
Having been on “both sides of the fence”, i.e been employed for many years, and now having latterly run my own business for many years –
It really seems to me that:
What is needed here for these workers is some sort of “connection” with the real world – whence they would in fact realise that they aren’t that badly off ….. no too much to ask is it?
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askeric dotcom, I think its you that needs a connection with the real world.
I really can’t understand the point you are trying to make in that lengthy rant?
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“free days”??!! Just because we are “Council Workers” doens’t mean that we should be paid less than inflation, we have homes etc to run too! And as for pressures etc how do you know how pressured (or not as you are trying to say) we are. Know much about BVPI’s?? We have to follow those too! We are fighting for a pay increase we should have received in APRIL. It’s your choice to be self employed and our union’s choice to strike, we are simply standing for the cause!
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no government would give them a better deal accept perhaps a communist one! So my arguing with the government they are just making sure they get a lower pay in the longer term by helping the anti union low pay anti workers tory’s to get in
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Why is that some people posting here feel qualified to compare such differing occupations and lifestyles? Each of us chooses our own career path and accepts both the rewards and drawbacks that their choices bring.
UNISON members are not striking to gain a massive pay increase, (although they do deserve one!) quite simply they do not want their wages to have less buying power this time next year. What their employers have offered is effectively a pay CUT; the rate of inflation being well above the 2.45% increase offered. Furthermore, the inflation rate is continuing to rise whilst this pay offer is capped until 2011! We all accept that when times are hard we have to cope with rising prices and tighten our belts, but we should not have to accept less money for doing the same work too.
We do not want to take strike action, most cannot afford to, but the employers are refusing to enter into discussions – how else are we to force them to the negotiating table?
I am very happy with my career choice, the pay is low but the work is very satisfying, it’s a shame that askeric dotcom doesn’t feel the same. Perhaps if his small business is so stressful and he reaps such small rewards he should consider a career change: one in the public services perhaps?
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Alan.
We are not making comparisons as such.
It’s just that I genuinely believe that many workers in the public sector just don’t realise how well off they are.
It’s only when you become truly responsible for your own destiny that you realise this fact.
And I do feel qualified to comment, as Ive been employed + self employed for over 40 years now. And If I can’t make judgements after that amount of experience, when can I ??
And – (at my age), I’m afraid I, like many others, can’t pick and choose another job just like that.
And … in any case,…. once you’ve built up a business (a ltd company in this case)… you CANT just give that up like changing jobs… so that option which you proposed isn’t realistic either !!
I’ll tell you now ………
If the “public services” wishes to employ a thouroughly professionally qualified IT and electronics engineer,(BSc Hons C.eng MIET MBSC) with vast amounts of experience not only in those fields but sales, management, marketing, accounts and general life …., and damn good at putting it all over to others (students etc)…….
Then ….
I look forward to the offers rolling in!!
Any offers ??
Regards
Askeric dotcom
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serotonin.
Makes perfect sense to me ….
And no, its not a rant, more a perfectly logical explantion I think.
I’m sorry that as a thinking engineer, I’m not good at the one liners …. maybe I should retrain as a comedian … they’re usually good at that.
Maybe you should look up what “serotonin” is?
extract…
New research by scientists at the University of Cambridge suggests that the neurotransmitter serotonin, which acts as a chemical messenger between nerve cells, plays a critical role in regulating emotions such as aggression during social decision-making.
now THAT’s interesting !!
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Alan,
I think we come by our opinions honestly. I was on strike myself – albeit a long time ago in the mid-fifties and quite possibly before most of today’s strikers were born. My salary was 29 shillings and sixpence for a 48 hour week – which didn’t go very far even in those days. In other words we did some of the ground work which has provided today’s workers with higher wages and better working conditions.
Moreover, I’ve worked in many fields from humanitarian aid to teaching as well as volunteer environnmental projects and of course running my own businesses – and in many different countries where I learnt the languages and customs of the people I worked for and with.
The idea that (our salaries) should automatically keep up with inflation, regardless of the economic climate of the country we live in, or the prosperity of the company we work for, doesn’t make a whole lot of sense. Why should the boss tighten his or her belt if the workers are not prepared to do likewise?
The situation in France today is a good example of this – overpaid workers who hardly work?
Could it be – that huge amounts of taxpayers’ hard earned cash is wasted within the education industry and that these moneys should be spread out more evenly amongst the employees?
If this is the case and you are poorly paid then good luck with getting your fair share of the ‘company’ pie.
But please don’t hold taxpayers and children to ransom in the process.
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Of course you’re not ranting askeric dotcom, a brief glance at this discussion proves that ;)
My point was that not all businessmen think that council workers are lazy individuals that don’t deserve to be paid a fair wage.
Your point (which for some reason you keep repeating) seems to be that because your business is failing nobody else should get a pay rise?
Do you really think I would have used this nick if I hadn’t realised that Serotonin was a neural transmitter?
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Many of the people working for the local authorities can hardly make ends meet as it is – why should they have to accept less of a reward for the same, often increased, effort. The relevance of what you were paid many years ago, Tony, eludes me.
Are you suggesting that we just accept, without question, anything our employer cares to do; just accept that times are hard and buckle down, safe in the knowledge that our employers have such integrity that when times are good they will increase our pay to enable us to live grandiose life styles. The majority of the working population are not so naïve.
It seems to me that we each have a right to discuss pay and conditions with our employer and what we are fighting for is THAT right. The employers are refusing to negotiate; this kind of dictatorship is not acceptable in a modern society. We should be able to talk as reasonable people, find common ground and accept a negotiated settlement.
There is, without question, an obscene amount of tax payers money wasted by this government and it is time to realise that schools are our future. If we want to achieve future prosperity for our country then we have to invest in the education of our children. This can only be accomplished by recruiting well qualified people who are passionate about what they do and rewarding them accordingly. Maybe then we would have the majority of working people with a string of post-nominal letters like askeric dotcom and maybe some of them would even get them the right way round too!
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Serotonin
I most certainly did not say, or imply my business was failing…. ,
Far from it !!!! –
we have a wide customer base, most of which pays regular monthly sums, with contract periods of typically 12 months, for the services we provide. That is:
We are not dependant on “always having to find the next job” (like a builder or plumber might be)
We have built the business up this way over the last few years to provide a measure of security – BUT – that doesn’t mean I can become complacent, or take my eye off the ball, or pay myself whatever I like ! – and
YES, sometimes, if cash flow goes “bad” due to “slow payers” (how would the “workers” like to wait 60 days+ to gat paid?), Suppliers, VAT, taxes, NI PAYE etc all needing to be paid, WHAT’s left to economise on ?? … there’s only one thing left …. my pay packet!
….AND ….
Nor does it mean that “future growth” can be “expected” to fund pay rise(s) “just becuase I need one, or want one” –
And…..
THAT is what strikers need to understand ! – Whether you “deserve a pay rise” (or not) isn’t really the point ….. rather, can it be justified, and, can “the business” afford it?
I have NEVER used the word failing!!
The word “FAIL” doesn’t “exist” in business, you have to truly believe in what you do, and NEVER give up without a damn good fight …
– and
You CERTAINLY don’t use the word fail in front of your customers !! – so be careful what you say in these columns !!
And finally …
With reference to “nick” (i.e nickname)
I’m not that daft !
With such a nickname as Serotonin …..
anyone is going to find out what it represents, if they’ve got any sense !
I just looked for the most appropriate reference to it …. which also happened to come from a most repectful instuitution, Cambridge University !
Regards
askeric dotcom
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Alan,
Obviously you have no real interest in the Labour Movement other than your own and fellow workers’ immediate needs. The past, and the courage of others is of no concern – which is kinda sad since you work in the education industry.
I have at no time suggested you buckle down and accept your employer’s offer – what I did suggest is that we shouldn’t automatically expect our salaries to keep pace with inflation.
As an employer I would dearly love to give my staff a raise – but I cannot give them a raise without first raising my prices. If the market place won’t stand it I keep the salaries in line, reduce my own standard of living or perhaps close up shop. With the cost of supplies increasing at an incredible rate due to gas prices – this may indeed happen.
Too bad – so sad.
But I’ll certainly try and weather the storm – and I know my staff will be right behind me.
As regards education – we have been hiring “well qualified people” (and paying them enormous amounts of money) in North America for several decades now. And in spite of this, and state-of-the-art schools, student achievement has not improved. On an international level countries which spend a tiny fraction of what we do on education do a better job.
Throwing more money into the education budget will do no good. It will only end up in the deep pockets of teachers and, especially, their administrators.
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