Strike by workers at Tory-led council 'could cost millions'

Published by 24publishing for 24dash.com in Local Government and also in Communities, Housing

A strike by council workers, including traffic wardens and toll collectors, could end up costing a local authority millions of pounds, a union leader warned today.

Keith Sonnett, deputy general secretary of Unison, accused Conservative-led Southampton City Council of refusing to enter into talks over a 4.5% pay cut and of proposing a three-year pay freeze and loss of annual pay progression.

Members of Unison and Unite have launched a campaign of industrial action, including strikes by refuse collectors and parking staff.

Toll collectors and supervisors, who work on the Itchen Bridge, will start striking from next Monday for a week, with unions warning that the dispute will cost the council £250,000 over the next few weeks.

Mr Sonnet, who will address a mass meeting of workers later, said: "Southampton council bosses must start listening to staff, or see millions in revenue wasted as the strike continues.

"It is bad enough they cut hundreds of jobs - they are now attacking pay and conditions and see no urgency to discuss it.

"It is insulting to these workers, who go above and beyond to provide vital services to the city.

"Workers are going to find it tough to deliver decent public services to the people of Southampton.

"Our members are fearful for their futures and how they will feed and house their families. We will continue to take action until the council agrees to stop dodging talks and start treating these workers fairly."

Unite general secretary Len McCluskey condemned the local authority for delaying talks until July 6, weeks into the dispute and only days before he said workers faced the sack.

"When will employers realise that macho management does not work? You cannot tell workers that they must accept serious attacks on their wages or be sacked and not expect them to defend themselves.

"Southampton's workers have time and again proposed a better way forward to an employer that refuses to listen. Tens of thousands of council workers across the country facing attempts to intimidate them out of their jobs will salute Southampton council workers for their action.

"Negotiation, not intimidation, is the only way to solve this dispute."