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Monday, March 5, 2012
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FANS’ FIGHTING FUND TO SAVE VALE
STRIKE THREAT BY ALEX CAMPBELL
alex.campbell@thesentinel.co.uk
THOUSANDS of city council workers are poised to strike if the authority refuses to scrap plans to slash contractual rights like weekend pay and mileage allowances. Unison said its 4,500 members at Stoke-on-Trent City Council had made it clear they are not interested in negotiating the council’s terms and conditions proposals. The measures would save almost £2 million as part of a £24 million savings package. But the plans, which are already a year behind schedule, now face a fresh challenge as the authority’s biggest union considers balloting for strike action. Branch secretary Colin Walton, pictured, said: “We now face attacks on the most fundamental of our terms and conditions. “Who would have thought the hard won successes of the past like additional pay for working unsocial hours, adequate remuneration for allowing the employer to have use of your car and a decent pension, are now under threat. “Members will need to rediscover some of the basic precepts of what trade unionism is all about, such as united we stand, divided we fall, an injury to one
Fresh hope in tumour battle SCHOOLGIRL Ruby Owen has been granted an early birthday present – a trip to the U.S. for life-saving treatment. The youngster, who is battling a brain tumour, will be in the States undergoing specialist radiation therapy when she turns five later this month. Her family and friends have helped to raise almost £50,000 in three weeks for a second course of the cutting-edge treatment after Ruby’s cancer returned last month. Brave Ruby will be in the U.S. for at least eight weeks. See Page 3
Four injured in crash on road
Council staff could walk out in row over contracts is an injury to all. That is why we may be calling a ballot, to stand up and be counted.” In a statement to members, Unison said: “The branch has consulted with members who have said they don’t want Unison to negotiate on ter ms and conditions. This has been fed back to the employer and their response is awaited. “The branch is mandated to conduct a consultative ballot with a view to undertaking industrial action should the employers attempt to impose these changes.” The Sentinel revealed in January how the authority was planning to rewrite staff contracts to save cash. Changes include forcing staff who have free parking spaces to pay, scrapping timeand-a-half payments for working weekends and unsociable hours, cutting mileage allowances to 45p-permile and removing expenses for meals and costs while travelling. Mileage allowance cuts would see casual users driving cars with engines bigger than 1.2 litres lose 20p every mile, while essential
users would lose 5.5p. Monthly allowances for workers who need to use their own car to do their jobs will also be affected. Unions have warned the move will hit the council’s poorest paid workers, including carers who have to use their cars for appointments. Marie Mitchell, chairman of Fegg Hayes residents’ association, said staff were entitled to strike. She said: “If staff are working unsociable hours they should be paid. I know a lot of people are suffering and may not be sympathetic, but if these things were in their contracts, they should be adhered to.” The latest dispute follows a threat of strike action by bin men, members of the GMB Union, who faced having their wages cut by up to £90-perweek to help save £395,000 before a council U-turn.. Leader of the city council, Mohammed Pervez, said: “The discussions with the unions are continuing. We hope to be able to negotiate a resolution as soon as possible while continuing to make savings.”
Should council workers walk out on strike? Email us at letters@thesentinel.co.uk
RESIDENTS are calling for safety measures on an accident-plagued stretch of road after four people were injured in a crash. Families in High Lane, Chell, say they have lost count of the number of smashes near their homes. They have now renewed their plea for speed restrictions after a car ploughed into a lamp-post at 3.40am yesterday. See Page 19
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