[IMC-UK-Features] Feature proposal: Local Govt Strike

[opprobrium at riseup.net]

Hey!

I've knocked together a feature (for the UK, Workers' Movements and
possible Social Struggles pages) about the local government pay strike
(html below):

https://docs.indymedia.org/view/Local/UkLocalGovtStrike

It basically rehashes the feature we came up with in Notts, so feel free
to change/improve/rewrite as you feel is appropriate.

While this is somewhat outside the areas Indymedia tends to focus on, this
is clearly a major struggle involving hundreds of thousands of people.
It's also generated some excellent reporting on the newswire.

Love, peace and stuff,
Rich

*****

Title: Local Government Workers Strike Over Pay
Image: http://www.indymedia.org.uk/images/2008/07/403883.jpg

<p>On Wednesday 16 and Thursday 17 July, local government workers in
Unison and Unite took part in a 48 hour strike. The action was in response
to the "final" 2.45% pay offer made by the employers (which, given the
current rate of inflation, constitutes a real terms pay cut) and part of a
wider struggle being waged against the public sector against what the
government call "pay restraint."
</p>
<p>Support for the strike seems to have been patchy. Nevertheless, there
were pickets at council offices across the country and thousands of
schools were closed as teaching assistansts, caretakers, midday
supervisors and admin staff walked out. Larger towns and cities saw a
number of rallies and marches.
</p>
<p><strong>Newswire:</strong> <a href="/en/2008/07/404073.html">Local
Government Strike: Day Two</a> | <a href="/en/2008/07/404001.html">Patchy
Support for Public Sector Strike</a> | <a
href="/en/2008/07/403985.html">I'd Rather Be A Cyclist Than A Scab: UNISON
Strike Birmingham</a> | <a href="/en/2008/07/403947.html">Local authority
workers walk out over pay cut</a> | <a
href="/en/2008/07/403869.html">Local Government Strike: Day One</a> | <a
href="/en/2008/07/403851.html">UNISON Local Government Members Strike Over
Pay</a> | <a href="/en/2008/07/403398.html">Public service Strike 16-17th
July and rally at Guildhall on 16th</a> | <a
href="/en/2008/07/402799.html">Council workers to strike over pay</a> | <a
href="/en/2008/06/401919.html">Local government workers to strike over
pay</a>
</p>
<p><strong>Regional Feature:</strong> <a
href="/en/2008/07/404166.html">Local Government Workers in Notts Join
National Strike</a>
</p>
<p><strong>Links:</strong> <a href="http://www.unison.org.uk">Unison</a> |
Unite: <a href="http://www.amicustheunion.org">Amicus</a> | <a
href="http://www.tgwu.org.uk">T&G</a> | <strong><a
href="/en/topics/workersmovements/">Indymedia UK Workers' Movements topic
page</a></strong></p>

[break]

<p>The strike was weakened by the fact that GMB members have endorsed the
pay offer and rejected strike action. While a handful of GMB members
refused to cross picket lines, the non-participation of such a major union
helped reduce the impact on services.
</p>
<p>The constraints imposed on local government workers are mirrored in the
conditions of others in the public sector. In April, teachers, further
education lecturers and civil servants took coordinated strike action
against their pay offers. Similarly, there is growing anger amongst health
workers about the poor pay offers that their employers have made. There is
a potential here for powerful alliances to be made. Whether that potential
can be built upon remains to be seen.
</p>