Tell the bosses...Hands off our pay!

www.socialistworker.co.uk

STRIKES CAN STOP THESE PAY CUTS

hio Written by a One Housing Group striker NITE MEMBERS AT ONE Housing are on strike against outrageous salary cuts of up to 8000 for 200 frontline staff. This story of attacks on pay is one that workers across Britain can relate to. Last week drug and substance misuse workers and nurses at Equinox, also members of Unite were striking against pay cuts of up to 20 percent. This week hundreds of GMB members at Cityclean in Brighton are on strike against massive pay cuts of up to 4000 and there are plenty of other examples. Last week a survey from the Institute of Fiscal Studies showed that workers wages are being driven down faster than at any time since records began. The average worker has aleady taken what amounts to a 6 percent pay cut since 2008. Now many employers, like One Housing, want to exploit the recession to drive that attack even further.

On the march on Saturday, hundreds of striking GMB bin workers battle to defend pay as local people cheered on

Imposed

This already equates to a 13 percent pay cut. While frontline staff suffer swinging pay cuts its a different story at the top. Chief executive, Mick Sweeney has pocketed an increase of 31,000 to take his income to 176,000.

One Housing workers have been asked to sign up to new contracts which would see pay slashed in February 2014 or have the new conditions imposed on them even earlier. Its great that Unite has launched hard hitting action with three days of strike this week and a further three days planned if management dont back off. When Unite officials asked the company to explain why cuts are necessary theyve been told its the marketwell at least management are honest about something! The cuts come in addition to refusals by One Housing to pay a cost of living increase.

Publicity

The real agenda is for One Housing to get its hands on an even greater share of housing and care contracts, resulting in bigger pay and bonuses for the bosses. As part of achieving this they are driving down the wages of frontline staff. But the organisation is getting plenty of bad publicity. Some council authorities, such as Islington, say that cuts must be borne equally by those at the top and the frontline.

Todays strike action will accelerate that process. Its important that where they can workers get out into the movement to tell their story. A victory at One Housing will represent a powerful message to those across the housing sector seeking to perpetuate a race to the bottom. The Peoples Assembly this Saturday is a perfect chance for One Housing Group strikers to take news of the dispute to thousands of activists.

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