Camden unison strike June 30th

With apologies for not keeping blog updated during unison conference I was just too busy!

www.stevesunisonconference.wordpress.com

And

www.jonrogers1963.blogspot.com

Managed it for those who are interested.

Now the hard work begins those of us in unison need to push for Prentis to name a date we will start balloting our members and a clear timetable for the commencement of action.

Whilst of course supporting the strikes on June 30th and preparing our members for when we do ballot.

Camden unison have now joined Southampton and Doncaster unison who will also be striking on the 30th.

Information from George Binette:

Please see press release below - not quite on the scale of Birmingham, Doncaster or Southampton, but it does mark the start, just possibly, of a fightback against mass redundancies across Camden as a whole and, of course, the first day of action coincides with the PCS, NUT, ATL and UCU walkouts.
 
If anyone isn't picketing/protesting elsewhere on Thursday morning, there should be a picket at 33-35 Jamestown Road, NW1 (nearest Tube: Camden Town; Overground: Camden Road) from c 7.00 AM.
 
Messages of support can be emailed to the Camden UNISON branch office via Paul England (paul.england@camden.gov.uk)

Many thanks in advance,
 
George.

 
Workers in the repairs and improvements section of Camden Council's Housing & Adult Social Care directorate have voted heavily in favour of strike action in response to the threat of 10 or more compulsory redundancies among their workmates. An official strike ballot came in the wake of a controversial restructure, which in an unprecedented move where those losing their job were forced to stay at home even though the Council was continuing to pay them and they were willing to carry on working. They were also instructed to return their work ID passes and clear their workstations, and stripped of their access to the Council's IT network even though they remained Camden employees.
 
More than 80% of UNISON members said 'yes' to a strike in support of their colleagues on a 51% turnout. The national union's Industrial Action Committee has now approved an initial walk-out for Thursday 30 June. While this would be the first strike by Camden UNISON memebrs over a local issue since the 1998 library workers' dispute, it would coincide with widespread action by the main civil service union, the PCS, two of Britain's teaching unions (NUT and ATL) and the college lecturers' union, UCU, over attacks on public sector workers' pension schemes.
 
UNISON branch secretary George Binette said, "The overwhelming 'yes' vote reflects the anger felt by members at the dismissal of their colleagues, especially when two dozen or more agency staff are undertaking work those at risk could well be doing and when numerous posts in the new structure are still vacant. At a time when the Council has told  tenants that there isn't the money to carry out a wide range of repairs, it seems extraordinary that capable, experienced staff face redundancy. Meanwhile, Camden is paying substantial sums for agency staff and are now employing a consultant to oversee a review of the repairs service. While we believe that the cuts across Camden are the tragic result of the Labour group's decision to live within the financial straitjacket imposed by the Con-Dem coalition, there is also a widespread belief that in this case the Council has failed to meet its obligation to mitigate against compulsory redundancies."
 
Binette added, "The impact on black staff of this restructure and the cuts programme as a whole seems to have been very disproportionate. At least half of those at risk of redundancy in repairs and improvements are black." 
 
UNISON will be mounting picket lines at Jamestown Road on Thursday morning 30 June and striking workers will be joining UNISON members from across London on the demonstration called by other public sector unions as part of their day of action against the threat to public service workers' pension schemes. The march assembles from 11.00 AM at Lincoln's Inn Fields, WC2, proceeding to a rally at Westminster Central Hall.
 
For further information please contact George Binette, Camden UNISON Branch Secretary on 07905 826304 or 07557 563044.

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