Workers Revolutionary Party - NO DEAL AND WE’LL STRIKE

The News Line: News Wednesday, 12 March 2008 NO DEAL AND WE’LL STRIKE – SAY CARETAKERS

Bert Schouwenberg, GMB full-time officer (centre), addressing a mass meeting of caretakers in Fulham yesterday

‘Not a step back’, Bert Schouwenburg, GMB National Officer, told a meeting of up to 100 caretakers, working on the Council Estates run by London Borough of Hammersmith & Fulham.

‘We have a mandate for industrial action and if we ballot you have to say “yes’’, you have to let them know you are going to do it.

‘Make no mistake Hammersmith and Fulham Homes are not independent, it is the Council who are calling the shots. They are ruthless and they don’t care.’

Shouwenburg continued: ‘Management are proposing to cut pay by 20 per cent, and “deresidentialise’’, estate care-takers, meaning caretakers will pay rent for accommodation on the big estates’.

‘They want to market test Housing Caretakers (HC) and Sheltered Housing Managers (SHM).

‘They have issued a 90 day notice to Sheltered Housing Managers and Housing Caretakers, residential and non-residential, that contracts will be terminated and then they will offer “alternative’’ employment.’

He added: ‘They are trying to make an economic case and legal case to justify their intent to reduce terms and conditions, before they put these jobs out to tender to private companies.’

Dave Davis, All Union Convenor (elect) said: ‘Basically, half our salary will go.

‘These proposals would mean a drop of 50 per cent in pensionable pay for Residential Caretakers and a 36 per cent drop in pay for Sheltered Housing Managers.

‘Our job is to get our members the best deal possible. We do a valid job, but management think we are people that should be done away with. They are not letting tenants know what is going on,’ Davies added. He concluded: ‘They are not going to get away with it’.