by Berkay Kartav, London Socialist Party
Southwark council housing repair workers began a three-day strike on 28 January. Unite the Union members picketed the two depots in the South London borough on all three days.
Photo: London SP
Disgracefully, workers who day in, day out perform essential work on council homes and council properties, get 12 days less annual leave than management grades. Strikers told us that over two years this can mean that managers get almost a month more annual leave than new starters and apprentices.
One of the strikers told us how much the council pays the consultants who tell them to make cuts. Labour-led Southwark council is planning to implement a further £5 million worth of cuts this year attacking working-class people in the borough, including giving contracts to private property developers.
On the first day of the strike, Southwark Unison branch secretary April Ashley and the National Shop Stewards Network chair Rob Williams brought solidarity. Strikers marched from the picket line to the council offices in Tooley Street.
A mass meeting of members is planned where housing repair workers will make a decision on the next steps for the dispute, including organising further action.