Unions Accuse Wandsworth Council Of Heartlessness
As members hold Valentine's Day protest against two tier pay system
BWTUC members protest outside Wandsworth Town Hall
Battersea and Wandsworth Trades Union Council held a lunchtime protest outside Wandsworth Town Hall today (14th February) over the two tier pay and conditions for outsourced staff compared with directly employed staff.
This marked the launch of a new campaign against the two tier pay and conditions system in the public sector across the borough of Wandsworth. The protest coincides with "HeartUnions week" from 11th to 18th February run by the national TUC to promote trades unions.
Near neighbouring borough Kensington and Chelsea Council has pledged that all outsourced contractors will be funded and required to pay their staff the London Living Wage of £10.55 per hour and Wandsworth must do the same says BWTUC.
This action followed the recent four days of strike action by parking attendants employed by outsourced contractor NSL who are seeking to end the inferior pay and conditions compared to the better terms for directly employed staff at Wandsworth Council. Sick pay is one example of lower term as staff are subject to disciplinary action after period of sickness and not paid at all if absent due to industrial accidents.
Other workers employed on a lower two tier pay and conditions in Wandsworth are estate cleaners, street cleaners, grounds maintenance staff, schools cleaners, home care staff and those employed by outsourced contractors in the NHS.
Seamus Mc Bride, President of Battersea and Wandsworth Trades Union Council, said "Wandsworth Tory Council is bucking the trend across London in persisting with the two tier pay and conditions for outsourced staff compared with directly employed staff. A neighbouring borough like Kensington and Chelsea Council has pledged that all outsourced contractors will be funded and required to pay their staff the London Living Wage of £10.55 per hour. Wandsworth must do the same. Parking attendants out in all weathers should be paid sick pay like the council's own staff.
This is the launch of a new campaign across the borough of Wandsworth to mobilise support for ending the two tier pay and conditions system for outsourced staff compared with directly employed staff. The exploitation of the lower paid workers many of whom are migrant workers has to stop.
BWTUC and affiliated unions want to galvanize support from local councillors and MPs and other candidates for election to end this exploitation. We want pledges of support from local employers and from civic bodied across the borough. Wandsworth's lower paid workers deserve the support of the all fair minded people in the borough."
Wandsworth Council have been asked to comment.
February 15, 2019