Unite press release

For immediate release: Wednesday 28 September 2022

Newham refuse workers demand pay justice from borough councillors

Refuse workers are fighting for a living wage - while councillors claim generous allowances and some own more than one home.

Unite, Britain’s leading union, has written to Newham borough councillors to expose the contrast between workers striking for a fair wage and councillors on generous allowances failing to intervene.

Some, according to the register of interests, even have second homes. Unite is calling on councillors to use their influence to ensure the council reaches a fair deal with the workers (see notes to editors).

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “The drivers and loaders are out on strike because they face a cost of living emergency. Councillors should be using their influence to deliver a fair pay deal which recognises the contribution these public servants make.

“The second phase of strike action ends next week but the workers have not ruled out more action and they have Unite’s complete support.”

A letter to Newham’s councillors, from Unite’s national lead officer Onay Kasab states “Many Councillors will receive more in allowances than our members do in wages. Newham pays its loaders an average of just £22,500 per year.”

He continued; “The unfairness does not stop here however. The register of Councillor Interests shows how some councillors own properties in addition to the property they live in.”

“It’s time for fairness. We don’t want second homes or second incomes. We just want fair pay.”

The loaders and drivers began strike action on Tuesday 20 September. The action ends on Monday 3 October. But the union has not ruled out further action.

The council’s current offer is worth a “measly” £950 - only if workers work every bank holiday week. In reality, Bosses in Newham have offered zero per cent on workers’ basic pay.

ENDS

Contact: Ciaran Naidoo on 07768 931 315 

Twitter: @unitetheunion Facebook: unitetheunion1 Instagram: unitetheunion Web: unitetheunion.org

Notes to editors

Unite is the UK and Ireland’s leading union fighting to protect and advance jobs, pay and conditions for members working across all sectors of the economy. The general secretary is Sharon Graham. 

 

Letter to all Newham borough councillors

UNITE THE UNION – DEMANDING FAIRNESS, DECENCY AND RESPECT!

REFUSE WORKERS FIGHTING FOR A LIVING WAGE – WHILE COUNCILLORS CLAIM GENEROUS ALLOWANCES AND OWN MORE THAN ONE HOME

Dear Councillor

You will of course be aware that Unite the Union members working for Refuse Services at Newham Council are on strike. All we are looking for is fairness in the face of ever increasing costs. All we want is fair pay.

It has not escaped our members attention that while they are denied a fair wage, Councillors receive generous allowances paid for by Council tax payers. This is on top of jobs that Councillors may have outside of the Councillor role. The Register of Interests on the Council website shows that there are a substantial number with jobs outside of the Councillor role.

According to the Council website the allowances include:

Mayor £87,997

Special Responsibility Allowances £36,937 (additional £5432 paid to Deputy Mayor )

Chairs / Deputies £19,555

Basic Allowances £11,779 (paid to everybody)

The simple fact is that many Councillors will receive more in allowances than our members do in wages. Newham pays its loaders an average of just £22,500 per year. 

The unfairness does not stop here however. The register of Councillor Interests shows how Councillors own properties in addition to the property they live in:

Zulfiqar Ali

Ann Easter

Anthony McAlmont  

Shaban Mohammed

Salim Patel

Mohammed Muzibar Rahman

Rohina Rahman

Winston Vaughan

Harvinder Singh Virdee

There are Councillors, according to the register, who own 4 properties. Yet we have members struggling to pay for the one and only home they live in.

But the Council obviously feels comfortable with this unfairness. That’s obviously why they refuse to engage in meaningful negotiation.

ITS TIME FOR FAIRNESS. WE DON’T WANT SECOND HOMES OR SECOND INCOMES. WE JUST WANT FAIR PAY!!!