Longest ever industrial action by youth and community workers
enters 11th week in Coventry
1st February 2010
The longest ever industrial action by youth workers in the UK
enters its eleventh week at Coventry city council with strike
action on Friday, 5 February.
The dispute centres on new contracts being offered to an
estimated 60 youth workers which the union says could mean a drop
in salary of up to £10,000 a year for at least two employees on an
annual current pay packet of less than £20,000.
The strike action by Unite, the largest union in the country, is
aimed at protecting existing contracts; no cuts in services; and no
commissioning of services to the private sector.
The strike by 37 youth and community workers will hit the city’s
22 youth work venues.
Unite national officer, youth and community workers, Doug
Nicholls, said: ”For some of our low-paid members, these new
contracts will mean a £10,000 a year reduction in salary.“
The changes could also mean:
- disbarring some workers from claiming working tax credit,
making a mockery of attempts to get low earners into meaningful
employment
- fewer hours for essential training
- a reduction from 52 to 42-week contracts, and hence less
provision for young people
- new job descriptions with diminished employment conditions
- removing opportunities for many of the most experienced staff
to apply for higher responsibility pay points
Unite as part of the consultation process stated that £120,000 of
savings could be realised by cutting three management posts,
instead of the devastating cull of part- time contracts.
Doug Nicholls added: ”The council is pulling apart the once
internationally renowned children’s and youth service in Coventry.
It is making the poorest paid and most skilled part-time women
workers pay for the cuts programme and it is planning to sell off a
depleted service with ‘cheaper’ staff contracts to the private
sector.
”The council has already spent £68,000 on private consultants
which could have been spent on boosting the youth service. Our
members won’t give up until this very damaging policy is
reversed.“
ENDS
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