[28
APR 00] COVENTRY CITY COUNCIL NEWS
Unions Threaten Industrial Action Over Pay
BY ANTONY HOPKER
Trade
union leaders are warning that industrial action could be taken by
Coventry council staff in the row over their pay and conditions.
They
are launching a petition to enlist the support of people living in the
city against the single status deal.
And
members of the joint negotiating committee set up by three unions -
the Transport and General Workers’ Union, Unison and Apex - to
thrash out the deal are urging councillors to get back round the table
to start talks again.
A
ballot last week over the review of people’s jobs and conditions
showed that 95 per cent of staff who took part were against the deal.
But union leaders will not reveal how many people voted in the poll.
They
are to urge councillors not to impose the new package regardless of
people’s views, and warn that council services could be hit by
industrial action if that happens.
The
petition will be launched at the traditional May Day celebration at
Dresden Square on Bank Holiday Monday.
It
says:
“As
a Coventry citizen I have grave concern that services will be
withdrawn should councillors impose new conditions of employment on
its employees.
“I
would urge this local authority not to take such action and seek a
negotiated agreement.”
Tony
Higham, regional organiser for the T&GWU, said:
“We
would hope the local authority refrains from any action that will to
the withdrawal of services in Coventry.
“People
are very sympathetic to council employees at this time and do no
want to see a return to public services being disrupted.”
Union
negotiators say many employees will lose money in the equalisation of
staff pay, and some could lose up to £5,000 a year.
Workers
who rely on bonuses will suffer in particular. The single status deal
was brought in nationally to iron out past inequalities as employees
in some positions, mainly women working part time, could not get a
bonus.
But
unions are concerned that many people will see their mortgage,
livelihood and standard of living crumble as bonuses form a large
proportion of their income.
Councillors
considering the deal say they will think about the outcome of the
ballot for a week or two before continuing discussions.
SEE: [26 APR 00] SINGLE
STATUS TO BE RECONSIDERED
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