'single status' strike
WORKERS, JULY 2005 ISSUE
Cleaners picketing on Tuesday 24 May in the Coventry single status fight Photo: Courtesy UNISON Coventry District Branch UNISON and T&G workers at Coventry Council held a successful three days of strike action at the end of May in opposition to their employer's decision to impose pay cuts from 1 June 2005 (see photo, above). Their strike has been followed by an indefinite work to rule, which has also been joined by GMB workers.
The pay cuts — for around half the workers in all grades, including the lowest paid — are the result of a "single status" regrading. As in many other councils the employers are cutting wages to enable them to pay those they know will win equal pay claims.
The results of the regrading exercise were rejected by huge majorities in all unions, and the strikes were well supported even by those who stood to gain from it. Even those whose pay went up lost out on back pay, as they received only one year's back pay when they were entitled to up to six years depending on their length of service.
Many of the losers are from occupations with many women workers, such as school secretaries, librarians, clerical workers and cleaners. Manual workers, including refuse collectors and ground workers, also lost out.
Across the West Midlands in Sandwell, members of the Sandwell General branch of UNISON are boycotting the job evaluation process after a successful industrial action ballot. This follows the employer going back on an agreement on pay protection and on the way in which the evaluation was to be carried out.
Throughout the West Midlands region UNISON branches are working together to ensure that members do not lose pay and that those entitled to more under "equal pay" legislation receive it. UNISON's conference on 23 July will provide an opportunity for all branches to share their experience and develop strategy and tactics.
