We have been told that unison wants to resolve this dispute as soon as possible, but that the framework for talks is until end of December... when it would be too late to take action if the best deal they come up with is still crap!
We have gone into open ended discussions, calling off all, even selective action for negotiations which it now appears by reading the various statements was with nothing on the table, nothing at all. Calling off action and it reality even without action, no other campaigning has been carried out or called for by our leadership (yes its been summer, but we new that when we called the action for July? didnt we?)
So there is a problem with the leadership and by this I mean the real leadership at the top of our unions.
We in Unison allowed this to happen. The left allowed this to happen. The majority of the left did not debate how to hold leadership to account, or how to win this dispute... just calling for more or all out action, or saying wait until October when we can unite with others, isnt a strategy its more a "lets keep our fingers crossed and hope the other unions come to our rescue"
We haven't got a real rank and file mechanism for bringing together local gov activists across unions, branches and regions and this has helped the "leadership" get away with this crap
Some of us in Workers Liberty and with support from other good activists helped initiate a email group but this is still only a tiny fraction of that of the health activist list. And this list growing to help share reports from branches, not just of action, but issues linked to single status results or negotiations, and other local conditions that can influence how we can fight over pay.
The leaderships consultations over pay show that they have little understanding of whats going on in branches, asking for information on holidays (very very varied with many many authorities adding extra days leave) and annual leave. They think these can form part of the negotiations.
So we need to learn from this and build up the rank and file we need.
But for now we should challenge the leadership to lead:
- pull out of negotiations to call action; selective or otherwise alongside other unions (close the schools alongside the teachers?) ; close the depots and street cleaning alongside the GMB etc - Unless they put something on the table to make staying at the table worthwhile
- meet now in a high profile manner with other unions in pay dispute including our comrades in scotland with the message that we will coordinate action
- call open activists meetings in regions (not just officers) to build local protests and lobbies of MPs about to return to parliament
- say no to multi year deals when inflation is completely unpredictable and we know we could be leading our members into years of cuts in pay.
3 comments:
What do you make of this Irish Minister's John McGuinness ascerbic comments on the Public sector In Ireland?
Does the same hold true in the UK?
"Public service culture "destroys ambition, resists change and is now so insulated from reality that information can be withheld from a minister, unfavourable reports are doctored and answers to parliamentary questions that come too close to the bone are masterclasses in dissemination and obfuscation which can deny our TDs the information they need to get to the heart of a matter".
"There is now a two-tier Ireland which is destructive and steals individuality, encourages arrogance, drains enthusiasm and denies the people, politicians and wealth creators, the benefit of a modern, high powered creative arm of the State that is vital to our continued success," he said.
bit rich coming from three generations of jobbing politicians, not that his family are "insulated from reality" or anything.. wait a minute "two tier ireland, destructive, steals, arrogrance etc.. " sounds true, but he is the one with other politicians, stealing from the low paid, and exploited workers, not the other way round...
oh and yes.. his son is a Fianna Fail councillor now too... another champion for wealth creation and the people i am sure...
He's comments are oportunistic, but they sure are whipping up attention over here.
We are staring down the barrell of a protracted recession.
With massive pay-cuts/ unemployment on the way in the private sector the resentment of those in the Public sector could well prove the undoing of the government if corrective action is not taken.
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