The pay dispute covering local government workers in England, Wales and Northern Ireland has produced negotiations which, at least in relation to the current year’s pay offer, appear to be getting nowhere.
Our Scottish local government brothers and sisters seem determinedly set on further strike action as their employers have failed to increase the 2.5% offered in 2008/09.
South of the border, UNISON Regions have, according to the latest circular “been asked to work with branches to ensure that a thorough consultation exercise is carried out on industrial action which members would be prepared to take on this year’s pay offer, should it be necessary.”
Now that’s all very well, but I have a fair bit of time for the criticisms voiced by a friend and comrade in the Northern Region.
Back in the 50s and 60s, "Take Your Pick" was one of ITV's most popular shows. Every week, contestants were asked if they wanted to "take the money" or "open the box." The point was that they knew how much money they had but did not know what was in the box.
We can’t organise our strategy for a pay dispute on this basis.
If we go to members now and say that we have not secured any improvement in the 2.45% pay offer and ask how much industrial action they are up for to secure that improvement we will deserve the answer we can anticipate, but our members won’t deserve the consequent outcome.
As this is not a quiz show we need to tell our members what is in the box before asking them whether they now want to take the money. That means that we as a trade union need to articulate a positive strategy to secure a decent pay rise for our members.
Lambeth branch offered some ideas based on earlier online suggestions. When the NJC Committee meets on 18 September it will receive a report of this “consultation” – but that report will be worthless and the consultation pointless if we ask members what sacrifices they are willing to make without simultaneously explaining what our strategy is to maximise the impact of their action.
Let’s hope that next week’s TUC heralds some more effective coordination between the public sector unions than we have seen thus far.
We need to open the box in front of our members and show them a credible strategy to win the dispute.
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1 comments:
as usual jon you have found the a light hearted way to make a very important point. Good luck at TUC comrade
Ed
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