Vol. 73/No. 41      October 26, 2009

“We’ve had enough of one-day strikes. You just clean it up the next day, so people don’t even notice,” Dave Parker told the Militant at the New York Road depot picket line October 8.

Workers say the pay cut would take many down to £12,000, just above minimum wage (£1= $US1.58). The Leeds city council has cynically justified this on the basis of equal pay legislation, comparing those emptying bins, mostly men, with cleaners and workers in school cafeterias, mostly women.

“The proper way to introduce equal pay is to increase the wage of the women workers up to that of the men,” GMB union organizer Desiree Risebury said.

At the Cross Green site, Unison union shop steward Harry Ambler told the Militant that 100 strikers gather there for a demonstration early each morning. They have received solidarity from other unions and workers in the area, with a substantial part of donations to the strike fund coming from street collections. A local cafe has brought hot meals to the picket line.

The council has attempted to break the strike by employing contractors and having agency workers who usually sort recycling do refuse collection instead. “If we lose the strike, there will be job cuts and privatization down the line,” Ambler said. “Other councils are looking at this, hoping they can do the same,” he said.

GMB general secretary Paul Kenny attended a mass meeting October 8 where workers voted overwhelmingly to remain on strike. Unison and GMB officials announced that £50,000 had been added to the strike fund. A benefit concert featuring musician Keith Allen is scheduled for October 18. Information on how to support the strike is on www.gmb.org.uk.
 
 
Related articles:
Tire workers in France fight frame-up by bosses
UK: hundreds mobilize against right-wing thugs
New Zealand strikers challenge dairy bosses
How miners won fight against WWII no-strike laws  
 
 
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