Shropshire Council staff to stage walkout next week
Friday 16th September 2011, 2:10PM BST.
Workers at Shropshire Council will hold their first strike on Thursday, union officials have confirmed. Members of Unison’s Shropshire branch will hold a day-long walkout, marching from the Abbey Foregate car park in Shrewsbury at 9am.
They will arrive at Shirehall in time for a full council meeting at 10am.
They voted in favour of taking industrial action earlier this week over planned changes to their terms and conditions, as well as the introduction of a pay cut that will come in at the end of the month.
Shropshire Council is proposing to dismiss all of its 6,500 staff on September 30. Workers will be rehired the next day if they agree to a 5.4 per cent pay cut and new terms and conditions.
Council leaders say they need to make £76 million of savings and that its wage-cut plans would spare it having to make up to 500 redundancies.
Most Commented
- Shropshire Council will face £8m redundancy bill
- Clampdown on Shrewsbury chuggers
- Bishop's gay marriage views do nothing to support bible teachings
- Letter: Alcohol price plans annoy me
- Planners ordered to stay on Newport visit bus
- Letter: Angered by close encounter of the furred kind
- Letter: No sense in overseas job adverts
Shropshire Star on Twitter
Keep updated with the latest breaking news and content on our Twitter feed.
Lifestyle
Interactive Dining Out map
Hundreds of reviews by the Shropshire Star and Express & Star's teams to help you decide where to eat.
Entertainment
All the film reviews
Before you plan a trip to the pictures, get our critics' verdicts on all the latest movie releases.
OUR NEW APP
Get the new Shropshire Star app
Download the Shropshire Star’s new app to your iPad or iPhone to get one week of access to our digital newspapers absolutely FREE.
shropshirestar.com
Popular sections
Useful links
And the public of Shrewsbury are really bothered aren’t they?
Not…..
It’s time to get the phrse book out again and say- ” Get Over it”
Decisions ahve been made and will not be changed, just get on with your jobs, be proud and lucky you have one and stop causing problems for the good people of Shropshire becuase you have spat your dummies out.
Report abuse
They must be one of the biggest employers in Shrewsbury, so I suspect a fair percentage of the general public are both bothered and directly affected by the dismantling of the public sector. Whether you think it is right or wrong, you’d be foolish to think it won’t affect you in some way or other.
Report abuse
Firstly any strike would not be democratic. Of the total numbers employed by the council, only 40% are in the union, of which only 45% retuned their papers and 66% of these voted for strike action, so for the whole workforce only 12% voted for strike action.
If even 100% of the 12% that voted for stike action did actually striie then I don’t think it would have much impact at all.
Report abuse
Only 10% of the eligible voters cast a vote in favour of the current leader of the council, Mr Barrow. So you are suggesting Mr Barrow’s position is undemocratic?
Report abuse
Actually I take that back, Mr Barrow got about 20% of the vote. Sorry.
Report abuse
If the union members felt strongly enough to go on strike I am sure that they would have returned their ballot papers voting for the strike action. It is my belief that of the 55% who didn’t bother to return their papers, the vast majority would have not voted for strike action. So I do not expect that these employees will be walking out.
Report abuse
it will be far less than 20% next election.
We will not forget.
Report abuse
I assure you Kieth Barrow will be in for another term – he is a crafty councillor; actively protecting services in and around Conservative Oswestry, whilst Labour and Lib Dem councillors in Shrewsbury are feeling the full force of cuts.
He and his lieutenant (Kim Riley) should stand down with immediate effect.
Councillors should see a 20% cut in their allowances.
Any council employee earning more than £80,000 should see a similar cut.
Perhaps then, general staff would accept their own paycuts?
Report abuse
Dean, Dont be so nieve to think that this is the end, the phrase tip of the ice is applicable here.#
Wake up !
Report abuse
Thanks for that Dean, as someone who works for the council i can not afford the paycut we are not all on a great wage and this shall leave me with barely enough money to pay my bills…..
Maybe we could deduct 5.4% of all benefits paid to long term unemployed
Report abuse
Michelle
It is worth remembering those on jobseekers allowance and other ‘working-age benefits’ received an increase in their income in April (their benefits went up). You’ve seen a pay freeze + pay cut.
I stand with you.
Report abuse
Look, if the council is short of money and has to make savings on salaries and the choice is redundances or a pay cut, then surely the paycut is the most equitable, as everyone gets a little pain rather than 500 getting a whole lot of pain.
This was the option at a company that I worked at in the early 80′s and people were glad to take the paycut raher than see colleagues put out of work.
However what I see here is the public sector seeing themselves as different from the private sector and expecting the taxpayer to stump up higher council tax again to allow them all to be unaffected while the real earners of the country in the private sector suffer all the grief.
Report abuse
I can see what you mean about the pay cut if it does save jobs though, which i have not seen any guarantes of this. Also there has not been a pay rise in the last few years and this still continues, but yet inflation increases and its now harder to live on this salary. Also it appears very interesting when week on week we see the senior councillors and senior management over spending on their budgets with what appears no accountabilty to this. So if we are going to save money from salaries then this should go the same way for the council to stop spending money on silly things which just aren’t needed.
Report abuse
Ah, but now the council have decided to sell off several of their properties, raising an amount which will dwarf the savings made by cutting staff salaries. In addition there will still be redundancies as the Terrible Twins seek to sell off various functions to the private sector.
Strangely enough, the people who work for the council also pay council tax. They also pay into their pension fund, Shropshire having one of the best performing funds in the country.
Report abuse
A slight jump in reasoning Carlito! Local Government council tax is spent on providing services that the people of Shropshire need, not on wages. All that people working in the public sector expect is a decent wage and a decent pension. Yes, we all have to tighten our belts at the moment but just because this ConDem government are trying to ‘dumb-down’ pension provision across public and private sectors, doesn’t make it right. You are falling into the trap of believing everything you read and hear in the media!
Report abuse
Rooner, where does the money come from then to pay the salaries, it doesn’t fall off trees. The council is funded by money from the government which gets its money from taxation generally, and from council tax. That money goes into one pool and the council uses that money to pay it’s bills, which includes salaries.
What the public sector wants is for the hard hit private sector that has had to face up to reality of the financial situation and accept changes in working practices and the loss of defined benefit pension schemes to keep paying more and more into the council coffers to allow their salaries, pensions and jobs to remain unaffected.
All this could have been sorted out several years ago if the then Lab government having decided that public sector pensions needed reform, hadn’t bottled it’s responsibilites at the slightest sign of a fight from the public sector unions. A Lab government that was funded by unions that is. Had the pensions issue been sorted out then, the council would probably now be able to pay the salaries without making any reductions either in salary levels or in staff numbers.
Report abuse
but Carlito the pension issue WAS sorted out then, teachers, local government have all NEGOTIATED reduced pensions just a couple of years ago!!!! Hence now pension costs for employers are going down and the fund is healthy
Report abuse
If Gordon Brown hadn’t taken a £37 Billion pound “Tax” out of pensions there wouldn’t be a problem.
Report abuse
They do not employ most people in Shrewsbur or Shropshire at all, where you got that statistic from is beyond even askign to be honest. If they don’t like the pay cut then don’t do the job, simple.
Its always the same with public sector jobs and the unions make them worse. I know lots of people quite capable of doing their jobs that are not in work at the moment and would easily step up to the mark and do them, so watch out…
Report abuse
According to the Shropshire chamber of commerce: “Shropshire Council is the biggest employer within Shropshire and delivers a full range of local government services”.
As you are completely wrong about that, perhaps the rest of your opinion is equally ill-informed.
Report abuse
DEAN = WRONG!
Shropshire Council is by far and a away by many many thousands the biggest employer in Shropshire, it employs directly 6,500 people plus indirectly the schools and colleges employed many thousands more, i beleive Tesco is second with just over 1,000 employees and then the NHS
Report abuse
There might be plenty of people capable of carrying out the jobs but they probably won’t for the wages they would receive!
Report abuse
I see the walkout starts at 9am., enough said really, most people in the real world will have done at least 90 minutes work by then if not more.
Report abuse
I would love you to spend a day in my team. you would be forced to eat your words..
Report abuse
I like the way it is going to take them an hour to walk about half a mile…typical council speed of doing things…no doubt H and S checks will take 40 mins and then there’s the fag and tea breaks along the way.
Report abuse
Claptrap! I suspect the private sector have more tea breaks and fag breaks than Council workers (afterall, Shropshire Council has a no smoking policy which prohibits smoking within 10 meters of any Council building – private sector worker are usually seen hanging around the front doors of offices and shops in a haze of smoke).
Report abuse
Thanks a lot Clock Watcher. I work for the Council. I start before 8.30 most day, work through my lunch break and never finish on time. I do this because I care about my job, and if I didn’t, the job wouldn’t get done and this would impact on the collective ‘you’ of Shropshire.
Whether you agree or not with the strike I think it’s not fair to claim that Shropshire Council employees are wasters. We work hard – for people like you.
Report abuse
Feeling the bite, Peter & Penelope Public Sector?
Welcome to the real world.
Report abuse
Are you really that short sighted. You havent seen anything yet!! Do you really think they will stop with public sector workers.
Report abuse
I am sick and tired of people saying that people who work for the council (any council in any county!)… i work for shropshire, we work very hard in our teams and we are very fed up with the way we are being treated… and the lack of understanding from small minded folk who know nothing is infuriating. how do you know how hard we work.. you generalise everyone and tar them all with the same brush.
yes, admittedly some council workers do not work as hard as some people in industry but i can assure you that is not the case for everyone, why do people assume working for the council is a cushy number… in my experience it is not.. add to that the fact that we do not get overtime, or bonuses like a lot of private companies i have previously worked for… many of us work flexi time but dont have the time to take it.. we work hard and remember it is generally for you, the tax payer and we are proud of that fact.
I personally work way over my allotted hours and dont mind as i like to be busy… however, i am cross that i do not feel able to strike as i am scared of losing my continuous service and upsetting my managers. This makes me angry, with myself for not having the courage of my convictions but i have a mortgage to pay and cannot risk losing my continuous service for which i have worked very hard and over many years…
please do not assume we are all the same, just as i do not assume that of people in industry … we are all at work for the same reason, to pay our bills… do not be so nasty to each other, without council staff you will 100% be lost.. be kind, not harsh. Life is short and our job does not make us but it does pay the bills…
Report abuse
Strike away! – and if you think you have the support of the council tax paying public with you – dream on
But:if you don’t like your job;pay and conditions look through the ‘Star’ on Thursday night and go and get yourself another secure job with better pay – and a pension
We’ve all had to tighten our belts
Report abuse
They have my support!
Tightening your own belt is one thing, having someone else do it for you, well it’s just a bit intrusive, isn’t it?
Report abuse
Rob arent the employees of Shropshire Council tax payers too!! Dont you think quite a lot of employees are jumping ship and finding jobs in other areas. I guess you havent really got a clue what is going on within Shropshire Council and would never understand it if you did.
Report abuse
if they are going to bite the hand that feeds them then the dole queue is about to lengthen. sorry no sympathy
Report abuse
Shrewsbury, here’s your chance to save millions, sack anyone that refuses to work. Simple.
To the employees, if you don’t like the changes to your working conditions or pensions just leave, no one is forcing you to work.
Report abuse
I expect you’d say quite the opposite if everyone left the Council and refused to work; popping into the job centre every fortnight and making up the three things they’ve done to look for work (yes, that’s all it takes).
Report abuse
I started work this morning at 6.00am and do a 48 hour week. I fully respect that some council employees also work very hard but I also feel that most local authorities are way too top heavy and dont really understand the real world.
I note with interest that at least one council employee seems to have spent his afternoon responding and defending teh strike action on this site! I trust he/she is not doing this in work time?
Finally I feel sure that perhaps as a one day strike is planned for Thursday, maybe they could all switch to a 4 day week? would anybody notice? Oops apart from the team responsible for new tourist sites on river banks!
The world is in a financial mess and striking WONT change a thing.
Report abuse
in response.. i am on annual leave if you meant me in work time!!!
Report abuse
It’s not just services that are affected by the cuts, it’s also funding for resources that have taken a huge hit.
The resources and services that, keep our youth occupied in the evening and weekends, (not private but council run).
The same services and professionals that are there for our young people who struggle with drugs, alcohol or just need somewhere to go and talk, all these will be… no! are now being reduced.
Let’s hope that the good people of Shropshire who are so keen to pooh pooh council employees will not be the first to complain when, (and let’s hope that it doesn’t happen) youth society turn to anti social behaviour because they are not catered for by the council.
If you read the council report about what local residents fear the most you will see a list of concerns/threats that locals dread.
These concerns used to be addressed by youth workers etc. not anymore.
Perhaps those who bitch about council shirkers will join Mr Cameron’s big society and Volunteer after a hard days work and at weekends to counsel and nurture our youth in how to handle drug or alcohol misuse.
I don’t think so! so when your parked car gets smashed up by someone smashed up or yobs threaten our streets… well let’s hope it’s not yours.
Of course you could always become a carpet fitter……..
Mike
Report abuse
MIKE. Sorry, but what you write about surely is a Police job. Now I know where my money goes and I don’t like it.
Report abuse
John you are so naive at times.
Report abuse
Mike. Not naive at all, just stating facts. I pay for the police to uphold the law of the land, now It seems that we have also got to pay you as well. If that is what your department does then it needs to be closed down. What you say in your letter about the youth is, at the end of the day SELF INFLICTED.
Report abuse
I do not work for shrop council but I back their decision to strike, they do work hard and have difficult jobs just like the rest of us.
Instead of turning against these folk why not turn against our pathetic government and the fat cats that are in charge of the council.
Council workers dont want to strike but have very little choice.
Report abuse
Well said Mark. And may I add…
Council workers are washing and wiping the bottoms of your elderly because you’re not able to. We are picking up the pieces of broken families because you’re not able to. We’re cleaning your streets, clearing your dumped rubbish, making sure you get the support you need to make your lives better. Many of us are doing the jobs you’re not able to, or don’t want to.
Council workers aren’t striking for gold plated salaries, pensions,and bonuses. They’re striking because they feel under valued and because the Council has been underhand in they way they’ve consulted on the terms and conditions and tried to undercut the workers whist protecting the senior management team.
Report abuse
Have the employees of Shropshire County Council had pay rises over the last few years.
I don’t know the answer, but I know I haven’t had one for 4 years and I’m not going on strike to get one?! The normal man just works and gets on with it, no unions and no fuss…
Report abuse
No pay rise since 2009. I don’t understand this ‘get on with it and don’t make a fuss attitude’. What about standing up for your rights?
Report abuse
Staff are currently in the midst of a two year pay freeze. Public Sector salaries have been running behind inflation, both CPI and RPI for many years. There has been a gradual decline in staff living standards for many years (at least a decade). When I entered my profession pay was equivalent to a police sergeant, pay is now less than that of a police constable. An intercity train driver is paid roughly £10,000 more than me and my job requires post graduate qualification.
Report abuse
“Public Sector salaries have been running behind inflation, both CPI and RPI for many years.”
well, not while labour were in charge though… so your definition of many years is a little, shall we say, generous…
Report abuse
Certain sectors of public service did well out of labour e.g. GP’s and teachers, but that was at the expense of the rank and file. In the case of teachers,the Scottish Government is looking at the deal as it has come to light that many of the contractual changes linked to increased remuneration where a smoke screen. GP’s got an overly favourable deal as their new formula created massive returns for little extra work. The GP negotiators could not believe the offer Tony Blair made and almost ripped his arm off in accepting. However, both these arrangements were not solely pay awards but contract rewrites. In the last decade, as a local government worker, I believe pay awards matched CPI once. Bear in mind that is the lower calculation of inflation and does not include mortgage costs (mortgage interest on average 1% above RPI). Since I started working in my profession the amount of responsibility and subject matter increased and staff numbers decreased. My team initially had 15 members. There are now 6.
Report abuse
I’m not in any Unions, but I am disgusted with the Council for the so called “negotiation” and for unfairly dismissing me without legal reason to. So I support the Unison action, I’m not sure if I’m allowed to strike because I’m not in a Union so at the moment I plan on going in, but I will donate my days pay to the Unions legal challenge and morally I am with you all, I will even bring out some cups of tea for the picket liners if you like.
Hopefully with a bit of striking it will make the powers that be remember what we do and get them to come back to the negotiating table with some ideas which all parties can accept
Report abuse
Let’s face it, we all know that the whole public sector has been a colossal drain on the taxpayer since the year dot. We all want more services for less, the question is how do we fix it? Radical reform is needed across every area of local and central government in this country. We need to look more closely at the systems other countries put in place and copy/adapt them to suit us.
What has got the private sector all fired up are the proposed industrial action by nearly every public sector agency. It will solve nothing, it never has. The unions really need to recognise that THIS time, the public will not support it. Too much damage has been done for the agencies not to take ‘the hit’ along with everybody else. Morbid reading admittedly, but a reality nonetheless.
Report abuse
Perhaps the Leader of Shropshire Council would like to explain to all of us why central government have no funds and have had to cut Shropshire Council funding. Why is there no discussion on this topic? Shropshire Council employees are continuing to do the jobs which they have done in the same way for many years, jobs which are essential for this county. They have had a pay freeze for the last two years, and the fact that some people have not voted for strike action does not indicate that they are happy to be treated with near contempt by the present administration, they are simply fearful for their jobs.
Report abuse
yes, because we all absolutely could not live with out a dozen diversity officers!
Report abuse
why strike if you want more pay??? by my calculations you get 1/365 less pay for the year by striking for a day which is a
0.3% PAY CUT
So strike for a week and you will be almost as badly off as the pay cut intends
better to negotiate so you say to the boss, ok you cut my pay but i want a couple of days extra holiday or a longer lunch break or a bit more training in return
thats what sensible unions do
Report abuse
That does not take account of long term loss and long term pension accrual loss.
Report abuse
Negotiation implies that both parties are prepared to discuss the situation with a view to coming to a fair and equitable resolution. With this in mind, how can you negotiate with Barrow and Ryley, when they have decided what they are going to do and you are either with them or you are out, as several people have found out. Where are all the fair minded councillors? Shropshire Council IS NOT run by these 2 despots, but by all the elected members. Or are they all too brow beaten to stand up to them.
Report abuse
Unfortunately dear people, we are all suffering, how do you feel the self employed feel at having to take a wage cut in this recession and finding that the pension you have paid into for a few decades, isn’t worth what you thought it may be and that’s no-where near your council half salary lottery wins, either.
Report abuse
Good old British disease lets drag everyone down rather than sort out the root cause?
Report abuse
Or you could just say, “I’m all right Jack/Mike”
The country’s in recession but the poor old public sector workers(whingers) shouldn’t suffer too, you mean?
Report abuse
It’s not just services that are affected by the cuts, it’s also funding for resources that have taken a huge hit.
The resources and services that, keep our youth occupied in the evening and weekends, (not private but council run).
The same services and professionals that are there for our young people who struggle with drugs, alcohol or just need somewhere to go and talk, all these will be… no! are now being reduced.
Let’s hope that the good people of Shropshire who are so keen to poo! poo! council employees will not be the first to complain when, (and let’s hope that it doesn’t happen) youth society turn to anti social behaviour because they are not catered for by the council.
If you read the council report about what local residents fear the most you will see a list of concerns/threats that locals dread.
These concerns used to be addressed by youth workers etc. not anymore.
Perhaps those who bitch about council shirkers will join Mr Cameron’s big society and Volunteer after a hard days work and at weekends to counsel and nurture our youth in how to handle drug or alcohol misuse.
I don’t think so! so when your parked car gets smashed up by someone smashed up or yobs threaten our streets… well let’s hope it’s not yours.
Of course you could always become a carpet fitter……..
Mike
Report abuse
Yes, of course i get paid by the state (i.e the taxpayer) but you said public sector wages come from council tax, which wrong. secondly, i am a public servant, i work for you so you can carry on making a profit in whatever you do. i don’t get a bonus (unlike the banker, that do!). If your pension is worse than mine that’s no excuse to reduced mine. My pension is already suffering because I have no pay rise in 3 years, but inflation has continued to spiral along side general cost of living. And by the way,public sector pensions are affordable, contrary to what the ConDem government would have you believe. This is simply an attack on hard working public sector staff, most of which are women working part-time, the ConDems simply hate Local government. That’s it, basically.
Report abuse
shropshire council spends £670,000,000 a year
it must save £70,000,000 *(ca 10%)
10% of staff vote to strike and walk out
I propose a solution for this lot. SACK THEM
job done, no tax rises, no school closures, no pay cuts for anyone, no problems
simples
Report abuse
Except for when they take Shropshire Council to an industrial tribunal and win and then that will cost hundreds of thousands! Bad logic KKK.
Report abuse
illegal, everyone has the legal right to withdraw their labour. Why not sack the managers who have breached employment law regarding the current proposals?
Report abuse
Quite wrong, police officers and the armed forces aren’t allowed to engage in withdrawl of labour.
Lesson #1 Must get your facts right
Report abuse
I believe the police covenant is by agreement and there has been many calls within the police for it not to be observed.
Report abuse
So you think your average council worker is on more than £107,000 a year do you? Get real and grow up kkk !
Report abuse
Beer mat maths from a meerkat. Brilliant.
Report abuse
I do work for the Council and have done so for almost 15 years. I’m proud of the fact that each and every day, I make a positive difference to the people I work with, regardless of their circumstances or backgrounds. My wage is significantly less than the £30 or £40k “typical” salary that seems to be bandied about; in fact it comes to nearer £20k. I do not pay into the “gold-plated” pension as years ago, I recognised that by the time I come to retire, the promises made of yesterday will be unsustainable. Instead I make my own provisions, so I will not need to spend my future reliant on either the state or my family. I am also a single parent and receive no state assistance other than Child Benefit.
I am very proud of the contribution that I make to the society around me and for that reason, I will not be striking; not for any other reason than the impact it would have on those members of the public who rely on my help.
So please, to all the posters and trolls above, don’t tar all members of the authority with the same brush. Your narrow-minded view of front line public sector workers is so pathetically out of touch in so many cases, it’s laughable. I work 40 plus hours a week, frequently prepare casework into the evening and provide a role-model for my daughter, when I could very easily put my feet up and claim the raft of benefits to which I know I would be entitled if I had a different mindset.
Report abuse
Excellent response, I would add one thing, you realised that the pension was unsustainable, why is it that your fellow workers cannot see the same?
Report abuse
Just because this one person ‘realises’ that is not sustainable does not make it so, just as if I ‘realise’ that the sun revolves around the earth does not make it so.
Report abuse
its a shame the tories havent learned to negotiate
its a 2 way process
Report abuse
cant they just eat cake ?
Report abuse
I don’t work for the council. I do pay council tax.
The strike and strikers have my full support.
Let’s stop this ‘race to the bottom’ and protection for fat cats like Riley and Barrow, while decent, hard working people at the council are threatened and blackmailed.
The workers united will never be defeated!
Report abuse
If we all took a mandated 5.4% cut to our wages or pensions it would change some of the selfish and foolish remarks on this blog.
Report abuse
its a cut to wages AND a cut to pensions (which are wage-linked) in their case though!
double whammy!
Report abuse
#8[Are you really that short sighted. You havent seen anything yet!! Do you really think they will stop with public sector workers.]
It’s already been going on in the private sector Gazza for a couple of years at least.
#16 Sunflower
[Council workers are washing and wiping the bottoms of your elderly because you’re not able to.]
The private care sector is huge so what that statement means I have no idea. You cannot get less than the minimum wage by law which is what the private sector pay, so do those doing this same job as a council employee get more or the same as the private sector?
Report abuse
they need to do long term action to have any effect, be tactical unison, withdraw key people, it for example, is a golden thread through all modern organisations, give a few key it people a week off and you could shut the whole council down overnight
Report abuse
so long as my bin gets emptied i couldnt care less
Report abuse
IF you don’t like your job,pay and conditions – do what I had to do – get yourself another job
Although; I’m sure, even council staff, realise what the unemployment situation is at the moment
in Shropshire.
Knuckle down,take the temporary medicine, and just remember what ever happens, your Union Official’s will always have their job, and generous expenses – with your Union Subs.
Report abuse
OR they could start their own businesses, with their superior attitude and know hows and then find how what it’s like to work in the real world, with unpaid holidays and poor pension prospects….doubt if any will though, if the way the council runs car parks and restuarants is anything to go by, they wouldn’t last long.
Report abuse
Temporary medicine? privatisation is permanent, pay cuts are permanent, lack of pension in retirement is permanent
Report abuse
i dont even have a pension so i dont see what makes them so special!
Report abuse
So what – people in africa dont have any medicine, so lets make you go without too then Bazza – a good idea?
Report abuse
Will the last person out please remember to switch the lights off?
Report abuse
……..in the Shirehall…..yes that would save a lot of money…….how many employees at Shirehall do NOT turn off their computers, printers, lights etc when they finish work ??
Report abuse
The cleaners are in the office at the end of the day. To back up the computers at night all terminals have to be switched off.
Report abuse
I work for the council and work shifts till 10-30- 11pm every other week for the benifit of the public who use our building to better there lives doing courses etc. I will lose my shift allowance and the 2.5 percent cut in wages that equates to 10percent cut in my wages. ilive alone and have a mortgage and bills to pay. The kind of cut to my wage which is not high anway takes me back to what i was earning 10yrs ago. How do you expect people to survive on this and if i could find another job i would. To survive all these cuts i go out cleaning schools and everywhere so i am trying to keep my head above water, by doing two jobs and at the age of 55yrs i do not know how much longer i can keep this up. So do not judge people by your insult remarks
Report abuse
yeah those damn moaning social workers and teachers and stuff, if they dont like it they should quit and get a job in a bank or something where they get bonuses
thats what i’d do if i didnt like my factory job i’d just quit and get a job as a vet or maybe a doctor instead, much better
Report abuse
i think staff there have got a fair point, that barrow character seems like a nasty peice of work, in the press statements he is so arrogant
Report abuse
im currently signed off work sick (with a bad back i cant do my manual sweeping job) so i didnt bother voting for strike but i would have been striking if i was able to get out of bed at all
Report abuse
the problem is the same as the national situation the decisions are being made by millionaires who arent hurting or feeling this recession at all (LOW INTEREST RATES for property mogols and talk of “so called recessions” on the tory front benches) but the people paying off the national debt are those who earn £15,000 a year or less lifeguarding, wiping oaps bums, parking cars, fighting crime, lifting sacks of litter, cleaning loos, mending park benches, picking up broken glass from kids playgrounds, directing tourists, housing the homeless and protecting wildlife
why should they suffer?
Report abuse