Southampton strikes to continue (From Daily Echo)

Sotonians_lets_pull_
together wrote:
How disappointing. How long before they can sack the strikers and replace them? Why should residents have to put up with this? If the relationship has broken down irrevocably with these workers, to the extent that they will not accept the council proposals, then sadly time to call it a day, and offer their jobs to people who would be grateful for them. This should be done as soon as the council are legally able to.

Sotonians_lets_pull_
together wrote:
Rhombus,

12 weeks I believe, which according to recent reports in the echo is up soon:

"Residents associations across the city have demanded an end to the bitter industrial dispute over pay cuts – now in its 12th week."

"pressure is mounting as legal protection from dismissal for striking workers will run out at the start of next week. "


http://www.dailyecho

.co.uk/news/9185054.

Unions_postpone_lega

l_claim_as_strike_ta

lks_progress/


Residents you would have thought can legitimately start to expect decisive action from the council, once the council have the legal power to dismiss the strikers with impunity?


"New Labour's Employment Relations Act 1999, made it unfair to dismiss an employee (though not a worker) for taking lawful industrial action within a "protected period" of eight weeks - increased to 12 weeks in 2004.

After 12 weeks however, striking workers can be dismissed with impunity. Even within the 12 weeks workers are not protected against action short of dismissal, for example demotion. Neither can courts compel employers to reinstate wrongfully dismissed employees."

http://www.socialist

party.org.uk/article

s/12178

lemsip wrote:
Summer of disruption
When was the last time we had mass strikes, riots, split opinions to the scale of what is happening now and a bleak future of more strikes and riots???........the 1980's, and who was in power in the 80's?
Need i say more?

lemsip wrote:
Summer of disruption
When was the last time we had mass strikes, riots, split opinions to the scale of what is happening now and a bleak future of more strikes and riots???........the 1980's, and who was in power in the 80's?
Need i say more?

waltons11 wrote:
Unbelievable!! When will this ever end?? I am just sick of the strikes, the noise of the pickets in the town, the mess - just to satisfy people's greed. Cuts have to be made - get over it!!

Dusty wrote:

waltons11 wrote:
Unbelievable!! When will this ever end?? I am just sick of the strikes, the noise of the pickets in the town, the mess - just to satisfy people's greed. Cuts have to be made - get over it!!

Greed? You define greed by not excepting a pay cut, how strange.

MGRA wrote:

Dusty wrote:

waltons11 wrote: Unbelievable!! When will this ever end?? I am just sick of the strikes, the noise of the pickets in the town, the mess - just to satisfy people's greed. Cuts have to be made - get over it!!

Greed? You define greed by not excepting a pay cut, how strange.

so do I. they are greedy because their T&Cs were already way above private sector. Their labour party caused this mess and they want others to pay for it.... thats stupidity, greed or both.

MBHants wrote:

lemsip wrote:
Summer of disruption
When was the last time we had mass strikes, riots, split opinions to the scale of what is happening now and a bleak future of more strikes and riots???........the 1980's, and who was in power in the 80's?
Need i say more?

A party that was in fixing the mistakes of the previous administration?

A party focused on growth, progress and the future rather than maintaining the status quo?

Need I say more?

(Not saying I'm right, but you can spin this either way :-)

waltons11 wrote:

MGRA wrote:

Dusty wrote:

waltons11 wrote: Unbelievable!! When will this ever end?? I am just sick of the strikes, the noise of the pickets in the town, the mess - just to satisfy people's greed. Cuts have to be made - get over it!!

Greed? You define greed by not excepting a pay cut, how strange.

so do I. they are greedy because their T&Cs were already way above private sector. Their labour party caused this mess and they want others to pay for it.... thats stupidity, greed or both.

Yes I do - I have accepted the cut, it has made a difference to me of £100.00 per month, very hard to bear, but needs must. We all have to tie our belts in and get on with it now!!

Sotonians_lets_pull_
together wrote:
smallone, they need to make cuts, so savings from dismissals will need to go to replacement staff or into the savings pot

George4th wrote:
So 1 in 5 Council workers have voted to continue the dispute! This lot are so dopey!
>
My guess is that there are political motives at play with SOME of those voting to continue - why else would they be so daft?!

Dusty wrote:

waltons11 wrote:
Unbelievable!! When will this ever end?? I am just sick of the strikes, the noise of the pickets in the town, the mess - just to satisfy people's greed. Cuts have to be made - get over it!!

Greed? You define greed by not excepting a pay cut, how strange.

loosehead wrote:

George4th wrote: So 1 in 5 Council workers have voted to continue the dispute! This lot are so dopey! > My guess is that there are political motives at play with SOME of those voting to continue - why else would they be so daft?!

George not 1in5 council workers but 1in5 union members. 600 people get a vote out of 2,400 workers so you do the maths & you'll see a minority of the workers are causing these strikes

loosehead wrote:

George4th wrote:
So 1 in 5 Council workers have voted to continue the dispute! This lot are so dopey!
>
My guess is that there are political motives at play with SOME of those voting to continue - why else would they be so daft?!

George not 1in5 council workers but 1in5 union members. 600 people get a vote out of 2,400 workers so you do the maths & you'll see a minority of the workers are causing these strikes

smallone wrote:

loosehead wrote:

George4th wrote: So 1 in 5 Council workers have voted to continue the dispute! This lot are so dopey! > My guess is that there are political motives at play with SOME of those voting to continue - why else would they be so daft?!

George not 1in5 council workers but 1in5 union members. 600 people get a vote out of 2,400 workers so you do the maths & you'll see a minority of the workers are causing these strikes

4800 workers actually. 480 voted to continue to strike. So only 1 in 10 workers actually want to continue to strike. In anything other than strike law that would be seen as a signifcant minority!

rich the stitch wrote:
Mmmm, think the good weather could have had something to do with this. "sod going back to work, it's sunny" Why do you not understand, you do a minimal wage job and get paid very well for it and get a good pension out of it.....and you’re still not happy. There is no money left in the pot. It's not your fault, it's not my fault but unless you can bend over and pull a couple of £trillion out of your lazy backsides then we all have to suffer, public and private sectors alike.

Bitternegirl wrote:
I say, give the workers what they want and ask the union members to then decide which 400 people have to lose their jobs.

Get into the real world all you workers. Be thankful you have a job to go to.

My husband had no choice, he was made redundant. If you had asked all his colleagues what they would prefer, a minor may cut, or keep their jobs. I know what they would have said.

In the meantime, we will do your work for you, take our own rubbish to the tip. How much will we get paid to do it? Nothing, and not even a refund in the council tax.

youbadneighbour wrote:
In the past 13 weeks I have been to the dump 4 or 5 times to get rid of my rubbish and am now starting to believe that we don't really need the bin men. Or at least very few of them.

Can I have my tax back now please.

Condor Man wrote:
I'd like to know how Mike Tucker is paid. Is he in the employ of SCC or Unison? Is he receiving a full weeks pay or is he too not getting wages whilst he encourages this strike? Come on Echo, start looking into the people perpetrating this nonsense.

Northam Lady wrote:
Bin Strikes bore me now - I would join you if I could but am having a briefing as a Marshall for Sunday's Sky Ride.( I wonder if the strikers have been doing any voluntary work to help their communities). Doubt it somehow. After all, who would want them? With you in thought, though and Well Done! Hope you get Loads of support. It's so obvious from these postings that the strikers have lost all support.

StEmmosfire wrote:
What a great example they are setting. Especially in the current climate of lawless rioting.

freemantlegirl2 wrote:

Northam Lady wrote:
Bin Strikes bore me now - I would join you if I could but am having a briefing as a Marshall for Sunday's Sky Ride.( I wonder if the strikers have been doing any voluntary work to help their communities). Doubt it somehow. After all, who would want them? With you in thought, though and Well Done! Hope you get Loads of support. It's so obvious from these postings that the strikers have lost all support.

No it's not obvious, it's a sign that the rest of us are fed up with the 'politicians' who are posting on here and bad-mouthing everyone.

Whilst I support the workers and still believe that most may have an unfair dismissal case. This is NOT just about the dustmen although that is the thing that everyone has noticed. I'm disappointed these latest talks have broken down and they really need to get round the table again. Also note that there was no 'recommendation' from the union on which option to vote for, so that rather does away with the assertions of people having their strings pulled doesn't it.

The council could send in overnight cleaning teams into the city centre and clear it all but they're choosing not to.... in spite of all their rhetoric of keeping the city going...

The council have issued several statements saying that people won't get a refund on council tax, how many more times. The percentage of the tax that goes on refuse collection is a fraction of the Tax. If the Tories had put up the council tax by a manageable amount, say a pound a week they could raise more revenue but no because then that would be quite stupid wouldn't it. if people thnk it's fair for people to lose pay, then I think it's fair that we all pay a little more Council Tax too. After all it's CT that provides for services and the government that have denied Southampton the funds it needs to maintain front line services.

Northam Lady wrote:
Interesting - no comments from any of the strikers as to whether they have been doing Voluntary work. They are too Selfish, of course. The whole reason for the strikes. Me, Me,Me - that's them! Get rid of the lot of them, bring in private contractors if necessary - just Get Our City Clean, for Goodness' Sake.

S Noss wrote:
I went out on strike and picketed for the first time today since working for the council – an organisation I have been part of for 7 years. Though it seems hard for the majority of "sack ‘em all” commentators to grasp, this is not about personal greed or wanting a day in the sun, people are thinking about the bigger picture. There are many more cuts come over the coming years and the ultimatum issued to council workers this year will not, I am sure, be the last. So, where does it end and how do we make it clear that it goes no further? I went on strike because I have witnessed the slow but steady erosion of public services at first hand and decided that I wanted to make my objection to this clearer. Many of my colleagues work over and above their hours to provide a reliable and competent service to the people they deal with, and I think that it is a crying shame that rather than vent your spleen on our government (both this and the previous one) bailing out bankers or engaging in unwarranted military excursions, you call those who don't want to take a pay cut "greedy". Where are your principles? If it is true that we judge people by our own standards, I can only conclude from many of these comments that yours are woefully inadequate.

Northam Lady wrote:
Bin Strikes bore me now - I would join you if I could but am having a briefing as a Marshall for Sunday's Sky Ride.( I wonder if the strikers have been doing any voluntary work to help their communities). Doubt it somehow. After all, who would want them? With you in thought, though and Well Done! Hope you get Loads of support. It's so obvious from these postings that the strikers have lost all support.

THEKILLER wrote:
If he unions were to have a secret ballot then they would find the result would be very different .
A mass meeting held with only 600 of the 4800 workforce is hardly a fair result, plus mass meetings can be very intimating with the bully boys looking for those not toeing the line!!

Sotonians_lets_pull_
together wrote:
Paramjit,

The strikes have been beaten, there is just a rump limping on.

The residents find them irrelevant

They are used to disposing of their rubbish themselves, and contractors are assisting

How many of us are irritated by anything other than the bins not being emptied? And I would say almost all of us have both had our bins emptied a few times now, and are also used to taking our rubbish to the dump to help out. It is such a routine now, we just dont notice it.

It looks like the strikers are about to come out of their protected period, and may be liable to be dismissed if they come out on strike again?

The numbers attending the joint unite and unison meeting were laughably small.

It seems like the unions have little sway now with the majority of council workers, who are now working under the new contracts

The unions seem to have said the legal action taken by the unions will carry on whatever, and the council is confident it can defend it. So the legal action is no bargaining chip in the negotiations, it is just something that will play out.

So, it seems to be a matter of dismissing those where the relationship has irrevocably broken down, and then waiting for the results of the legal action.

At which point, if the unions have any success, it will just mean new pay cuts under a new and robust notice and dismissal process, probably deeper than before, and probably more redundnacies too.

The workers have to realise that anything they manage to get out of the council through negotiation or legal action, will still have to be clawed back over the next few years through more pay cuts or job losses.

Time to wake up and see the reality of the situation.

The more trouble the workers cause, the deeper the cuts will have to be.

The residents wont tolerate footing the bill for the militants to avoid the economic realities we are all living with now.

My View From Here wrote:

THEKILLER wrote:
If he unions were to have a secret ballot then they would find the result would be very different .
A mass meeting held with only 600 of the 4800 workforce is hardly a fair result, plus mass meetings can be very intimating with the bully boys looking for those not toeing the line!!

The 4800 workers are not all union members, so your figures are a bit distorted.

Union members voted to continue to strike, democracy in action, enough said really.

RadicalEmu wrote:

Sotonians_lets_pull_

together wrote:
Paramjit,

The strikes have been beaten, there is just a rump limping on.

The residents find them irrelevant

They are used to disposing of their rubbish themselves, and contractors are assisting

How many of us are irritated by anything other than the bins not being emptied? And I would say almost all of us have both had our bins emptied a few times now, and are also used to taking our rubbish to the dump to help out. It is such a routine now, we just dont notice it.

It looks like the strikers are about to come out of their protected period, and may be liable to be dismissed if they come out on strike again?

The numbers attending the joint unite and unison meeting were laughably small.

It seems like the unions have little sway now with the majority of council workers, who are now working under the new contracts

The unions seem to have said the legal action taken by the unions will carry on whatever, and the council is confident it can defend it. So the legal action is no bargaining chip in the negotiations, it is just something that will play out.

So, it seems to be a matter of dismissing those where the relationship has irrevocably broken down, and then waiting for the results of the legal action.

At which point, if the unions have any success, it will just mean new pay cuts under a new and robust notice and dismissal process, probably deeper than before, and probably more redundnacies too.

The workers have to realise that anything they manage to get out of the council through negotiation or legal action, will still have to be clawed back over the next few years through more pay cuts or job losses.

Time to wake up and see the reality of the situation.

The more trouble the workers cause, the deeper the cuts will have to be.

The residents wont tolerate footing the bill for the militants to avoid the economic realities we are all living with now.

A peaceful strike is 'militant' action?
.
Where were you in the 80's?

Sotonians_lets_pull_
together wrote:
I assume that any dismissals of strikers after the twelve week period has ended will be able to be done by the council without paying anything other than statutory notice? Is that correct? ie no redundancy packages required.

Will they even have to give notice if they already gave notice at the time of dismissal and reenagement. Could the workers just be summarily dismissed if the workers are simply not willing to work under the basis of their new or implied contracts?

If that is the case, have the unions been informing the workers that they could be out on their ear immediately with no payoff if they strike again?

Because if that is the situation, and it comes as a shock to those workers, it will be tragic for them and their families as the year closes in and we approach Christmas.

I dont know what the exact situation is, but if I was a striker, I would want to make sure one way or the other!

Paramjit Bahia wrote:
Same regular anti workers posters seem to be at it again, without admitting that only this morning some of them were bragging about having defeated the organised workers . Workers are neither cowards nor stupid, they know what the decrease in wages while the cost of living is increasing by the day can mean for them and their dependents. So they have once again voted to exercise their right to protest by withdrawing their labour. Their democratic decision deserves respect and full support . Rather than picking upon workers local Councillors should be demanding proper resources from Pickle in London, who should be telling Cameron, Clegg and other pro EU, war mongers and virtual puppets of bosses and bankers (Many of which can also be found in Milliband led Labour Party) to stop wasting billions upon billions on these unnecessary and completely foolish projects and use nation’s resources for the benefit of Britain, by providing proper services to the people and decent wage to workers who deliver those.

RadicalEmu wrote:

Sotonians_lets_pull_

together wrote:
I assume that any dismissals of strikers after the twelve week period has ended will be able to be done by the council without paying anything other than statutory notice? Is that correct? ie no redundancy packages required.

Will they even have to give notice if they already gave notice at the time of dismissal and reenagement. Could the workers just be summarily dismissed if the workers are simply not willing to work under the basis of their new or implied contracts?

If that is the case, have the unions been informing the workers that they could be out on their ear immediately with no payoff if they strike again?

Because if that is the situation, and it comes as a shock to those workers, it will be tragic for them and their families as the year closes in and we approach Christmas.

I dont know what the exact situation is, but if I was a striker, I would want to make sure one way or the other!

Something's fishy here.
.
The post directed to Paramjit is very sure of itself, knows a lot about the inner workings of the situation. It also has a lot of demotivating statements, a tactic the Met has used to try to get protest groups to give up.
.
The post I'm quoting is almost falling over itself to appear to not know anything, while giving little hints at possible future events.
.
s/w: bank-gain - Maybe, but workers of all sectors are gaining nothing.

Sotonians_lets_pull_
together wrote:

RadicalEmu wrote:

Sotonians_lets_pull_


together wrote:
I assume that any dismissals of strikers after the twelve week period has ended will be able to be done by the council without paying anything other than statutory notice? Is that correct? ie no redundancy packages required.

Will they even have to give notice if they already gave notice at the time of dismissal and reenagement. Could the workers just be summarily dismissed if the workers are simply not willing to work under the basis of their new or implied contracts?

If that is the case, have the unions been informing the workers that they could be out on their ear immediately with no payoff if they strike again?

Because if that is the situation, and it comes as a shock to those workers, it will be tragic for them and their families as the year closes in and we approach Christmas.

I dont know what the exact situation is, but if I was a striker, I would want to make sure one way or the other!

Something's fishy here.
.
The post directed to Paramjit is very sure of itself, knows a lot about the inner workings of the situation. It also has a lot of demotivating statements, a tactic the Met has used to try to get protest groups to give up.
.
The post I'm quoting is almost falling over itself to appear to not know anything, while giving little hints at possible future events.
.
s/w: bank-gain - Maybe, but workers of all sectors are gaining nothing.

The situation seems pretty much common sense to me Radical Emu.

If I had the power to make the decision I would be pressing to sack any strikers as soon as it is legal, and make it clear to them beforehand that that would be the consequence of striking again.

I would prefer it was done by warning people first, say, so they still had the opportunity to come onboard, but it possibly wouldnt be necessary.

I think acting decisively like this would be a vote winner, and the workers who are sick of the strikes, and sick of how the residents are being turned against them all would be (secretly?) grateful too.

But, as I dont know for sure what the legalities are, I just suggest that the strikers should make sure they are away of what the reality of the situation is, once the legally protected period is up, so they dont take a course of action which lands them out of a job.

I have more sympathy for the workers who are simply "lefty" sheep in all this, as compared to the the union puppeteers.

wrote:

Sotonians_lets_pull_
together wrote:

My View From Here wrote:

THEKILLER wrote:
If he unions were to have a secret ballot then they would find the result would be very different .
A mass meeting held with only 600 of the 4800 workforce is hardly a fair result, plus mass meetings can be very intimating with the bully boys looking for those not toeing the line!!

The 4800 workers are not all union members, so your figures are a bit distorted.

Union members voted to continue to strike, democracy in action, enough said really.

Maybe all the council workers against the strikes should join the union, and vote down the strikes!

The council could even pay their membership dues.

Would be cheaper than other solutions

S Noss wrote:
I went out on strike and picketed for the first time today since working for the council – an organisation I have been part of for 7 years. Though it seems hard for the majority of "sack ‘em all” commentators to grasp, this is not about personal greed or wanting a day in the sun, people are thinking about the bigger picture. There are many more cuts come over the coming years and the ultimatum issued to council workers this year will not, I am sure, be the last. So, where does it end and how do we make it clear that it goes no further? I went on strike because I have witnessed the slow but steady erosion of public services at first hand and decided that I wanted to make my objection to this clearer. Many of my colleagues work over and above their hours to provide a reliable and competent service to the people they deal with, and I think that it is a crying shame that rather than vent your spleen on our government (both this and the previous one) bailing out bankers or engaging in unwarranted military excursions, you call those who don't want to take a pay cut "greedy". Where are your principles? If it is true that we judge people by our own standards, I can only conclude from many of these comments that yours are woefully inadequate.

Sotonians_lets_pull_
together wrote:
How disappointing. How long before they can sack the strikers and replace them? Why should residents have to put up with this? If the relationship has broken down irrevocably with these workers, to the extent that they will not accept the council proposals, then sadly time to call it a day, and offer their jobs to people who would be grateful for them. This should be done as soon as the council are legally able to.

loosehead wrote:

S Noss wrote:
I went out on strike and picketed for the first time today since working for the council – an organisation I have been part of for 7 years. Though it seems hard for the majority of "sack ‘em all” commentators to grasp, this is not about personal greed or wanting a day in the sun, people are thinking about the bigger picture. There are many more cuts come over the coming years and the ultimatum issued to council workers this year will not, I am sure, be the last. So, where does it end and how do we make it clear that it goes no further? I went on strike because I have witnessed the slow but steady erosion of public services at first hand and decided that I wanted to make my objection to this clearer. Many of my colleagues work over and above their hours to provide a reliable and competent service to the people they deal with, and I think that it is a crying shame that rather than vent your spleen on our government (both this and the previous one) bailing out bankers or engaging in unwarranted military excursions, you call those who don't want to take a pay cut "greedy". Where are your principles? If it is true that we judge people by our own standards, I can only conclude from many of these comments that yours are woefully inadequate.

Snoss so what you want to wait for a Labour council who will get rid of 800 more of you.who will cut your pay ,who will put up your council tax (so a double hit) & have pay freezes.this vote today was ludicrous this is the best deal for saving jobs your going to get but you all seem so filled with lies by the unions & the left wing you can't see it wake up the day of the contractor is coming

resident in southampton east wrote:

Sotonians_lets_pull_

together wrote:
How disappointing. How long before they can sack the strikers and replace them? Why should residents have to put up with this? If the relationship has broken down irrevocably with these workers, to the extent that they will not accept the council proposals, then sadly time to call it a day, and offer their jobs to people who would be grateful for them. This should be done as soon as the council are legally able to.

would the councillors take a pay cut no but they have just got a 20% rise what do they do nothing

My View From Here wrote:

loosehead wrote:

S Noss wrote:
I went out on strike and picketed for the first time today since working for the council – an organisation I have been part of for 7 years. Though it seems hard for the majority of "sack ‘em all” commentators to grasp, this is not about personal greed or wanting a day in the sun, people are thinking about the bigger picture. There are many more cuts come over the coming years and the ultimatum issued to council workers this year will not, I am sure, be the last. So, where does it end and how do we make it clear that it goes no further? I went on strike because I have witnessed the slow but steady erosion of public services at first hand and decided that I wanted to make my objection to this clearer. Many of my colleagues work over and above their hours to provide a reliable and competent service to the people they deal with, and I think that it is a crying shame that rather than vent your spleen on our government (both this and the previous one) bailing out bankers or engaging in unwarranted military excursions, you call those who don't want to take a pay cut "greedy". Where are your principles? If it is true that we judge people by our own standards, I can only conclude from many of these comments that yours are woefully inadequate.

Snoss so what you want to wait for a Labour council who will get rid of 800 more of you.who will cut your pay ,who will put up your council tax (so a double hit) & have pay freezes.this vote today was ludicrous this is the best deal for saving jobs your going to get but you all seem so filled with lies by the unions & the left wing you can't see it wake up the day of the contractor is coming

Even a Labour council cannot increase the council tax, Eric Pickles would simply cap them.

The freezing of council is not the choice of the council, its been handed by central Government.

IronLady2010 wrote:
Leave them to strike, let them watch their own colleagues be out of a job due to redundancies.

Bored of the whole thing now, just carry on striking, no-one cares any more!

loosehead wrote:

resident in southampton east wrote:

Sotonians_lets_pull_


together wrote:
How disappointing. How long before they can sack the strikers and replace them? Why should residents have to put up with this? If the relationship has broken down irrevocably with these workers, to the extent that they will not accept the council proposals, then sadly time to call it a day, and offer their jobs to people who would be grateful for them. This should be done as soon as the council are legally able to.

would the councillors take a pay cut no but they have just got a 20% rise what do they do nothing

Get your facts right .the Tory's when they got power took a pay cut.an independent review said the councillors were paid to much but Royston wasn't paid enough & should have a pay rise which he has refused so where/when was this pay rise paid?

OSPREYSAINT wrote:

loosehead wrote:

resident in southampton east wrote:

Sotonians_lets_pull_



together wrote:
How disappointing. How long before they can sack the strikers and replace them? Why should residents have to put up with this? If the relationship has broken down irrevocably with these workers, to the extent that they will not accept the council proposals, then sadly time to call it a day, and offer their jobs to people who would be grateful for them. This should be done as soon as the council are legally able to.

would the councillors take a pay cut no but they have just got a 20% rise what do they do nothing

Get your facts right .the Tory's when they got power took a pay cut.an independent review said the councillors were paid to much but Royston wasn't paid enough & should have a pay rise which he has refused so where/when was this pay rise paid?

That doesn't make Royston a hero, he is probably so loaded it wouldn't make any difference. What is the obsession with you people to get your fellow human beings sacked or treated like dirt? The only reason you are bleating is because it is an inconvenience to you. Put more pressure on the Council to come up with a reasonable settlement, you know that makes sense.

MGRA wrote:

OSPREYSAINT wrote:

loosehead wrote:

resident in southampton east wrote:

Sotonians_lets_pull_ together wrote: How disappointing. How long before they can sack the strikers and replace them? Why should residents have to put up with this? If the relationship has broken down irrevocably with these workers, to the extent that they will not accept the council proposals, then sadly time to call it a day, and offer their jobs to people who would be grateful for them. This should be done as soon as the council are legally able to.

would the councillors take a pay cut no but they have just got a 20% rise what do they do nothing

Get your facts right .the Tory's when they got power took a pay cut.an independent review said the councillors were paid to much but Royston wasn't paid enough & should have a pay rise which he has refused so where/when was this pay rise paid?

That doesn't make Royston a hero, he is probably so loaded it wouldn't make any difference. What is the obsession with you people to get your fellow human beings sacked or treated like dirt? The only reason you are bleating is because it is an inconvenience to you. Put more pressure on the Council to come up with a reasonable settlement, you know that makes sense.

your empty in the head. If he is "so loaded" why would he bother to work ??? moreover why would he do a sh*t job like the one he does ??? grow a brain and start making sense... "loaded" people dont work in councils. Thats a no-brainer.... ( embarrassed yet )

MGRA wrote:
I would love to be a fly on the wall at union HQ,,, they are up the creak on this one.... talk about stupid.... oh I would love to see their faces. Royston must be cracking open the ( modestly priced ) bubbly tonight.... he now has all the moral high ground, not just a big slice of it, the unions are now mute effectively because no matter what they say now no one will listen, just leaves the puppets to carry on setting fire to their wooden boat at sea to keep warm.... so very funny and so very soon to be sacked , the workshy lazy ****ards..... ( bit harsh !? ) , naaaaa

OSPREYSAINT wrote:
Just another of your usual personal insults, I will ignor that remark, yes you are right with your description about how Royston is doing his job but I am surprised it came from you, being one of his hero worshippers! Also accusing the rest of the Council of being hard up and work shy is just as astonishing. I have a colleague at work who was at school with Royston, I would love to print his opinion about him but I must resist the temptation!

Your should read you are or you're by the way

loosehead wrote:

My View From Here wrote:

loosehead wrote:

S Noss wrote:
I went out on strike and picketed for the first time today since working for the council – an organisation I have been part of for 7 years. Though it seems hard for the majority of "sack ‘em all” commentators to grasp, this is not about personal greed or wanting a day in the sun, people are thinking about the bigger picture. There are many more cuts come over the coming years and the ultimatum issued to council workers this year will not, I am sure, be the last. So, where does it end and how do we make it clear that it goes no further? I went on strike because I have witnessed the slow but steady erosion of public services at first hand and decided that I wanted to make my objection to this clearer. Many of my colleagues work over and above their hours to provide a reliable and competent service to the people they deal with, and I think that it is a crying shame that rather than vent your spleen on our government (both this and the previous one) bailing out bankers or engaging in unwarranted military excursions, you call those who don't want to take a pay cut "greedy". Where are your principles? If it is true that we judge people by our own standards, I can only conclude from many of these comments that yours are woefully inadequate.

Snoss so what you want to wait for a Labour council who will get rid of 800 more of you.who will cut your pay ,who will put up your council tax (so a double hit) & have pay freezes.this vote today was ludicrous this is the best deal for saving jobs your going to get but you all seem so filled with lies by the unions & the left wing you can't see it wake up the day of the contractor is coming

Even a Labour council cannot increase the council tax, Eric Pickles would simply cap them.

The freezing of council is not the choice of the council, its been handed by central Government.

Your wrong the council tax freeze was for one to two years so they can put it into the calculations for next year onwards & it was the head of the Labour party in Southampton who said they were going to do it.the freezing of pay is what the Labour party said it would do

My View From Here wrote:

loosehead wrote:

My View From Here wrote:

loosehead wrote:

S Noss wrote:
I went out on strike and picketed for the first time today since working for the council – an organisation I have been part of for 7 years. Though it seems hard for the majority of "sack ‘em all” commentators to grasp, this is not about personal greed or wanting a day in the sun, people are thinking about the bigger picture. There are many more cuts come over the coming years and the ultimatum issued to council workers this year will not, I am sure, be the last. So, where does it end and how do we make it clear that it goes no further? I went on strike because I have witnessed the slow but steady erosion of public services at first hand and decided that I wanted to make my objection to this clearer. Many of my colleagues work over and above their hours to provide a reliable and competent service to the people they deal with, and I think that it is a crying shame that rather than vent your spleen on our government (both this and the previous one) bailing out bankers or engaging in unwarranted military excursions, you call those who don't want to take a pay cut "greedy". Where are your principles? If it is true that we judge people by our own standards, I can only conclude from many of these comments that yours are woefully inadequate.

Snoss so what you want to wait for a Labour council who will get rid of 800 more of you.who will cut your pay ,who will put up your council tax (so a double hit) & have pay freezes.this vote today was ludicrous this is the best deal for saving jobs your going to get but you all seem so filled with lies by the unions & the left wing you can't see it wake up the day of the contractor is coming

Even a Labour council cannot increase the council tax, Eric Pickles would simply cap them.

The freezing of council is not the choice of the council, its been handed by central Government.

Your wrong the council tax freeze was for one to two years so they can put it into the calculations for next year onwards & it was the head of the Labour party in Southampton who said they were going to do it.the freezing of pay is what the Labour party said it would do

Loose the Department for Communities and Local Government announced in October 2010 the freezing of council tax for the following year 2011/12

http://www.communiti

es.gov.uk/news/newsr

oom/1746693. it is here for you to see.

DCLG is a Government Department, so the freezing of council tax was theirs, nothing to do with local councils

OSPREYSAINT wrote:

loosehead wrote:

resident in southampton east wrote:

Sotonians_lets_pull_



together wrote:
How disappointing. How long before they can sack the strikers and replace them? Why should residents have to put up with this? If the relationship has broken down irrevocably with these workers, to the extent that they will not accept the council proposals, then sadly time to call it a day, and offer their jobs to people who would be grateful for them. This should be done as soon as the council are legally able to.

would the councillors take a pay cut no but they have just got a 20% rise what do they do nothing

Get your facts right .the Tory's when they got power took a pay cut.an independent review said the councillors were paid to much but Royston wasn't paid enough & should have a pay rise which he has refused so where/when was this pay rise paid?

That doesn't make Royston a hero, he is probably so loaded it wouldn't make any difference. What is the obsession with you people to get your fellow human beings sacked or treated like dirt? The only reason you are bleating is because it is an inconvenience to you. Put more pressure on the Council to come up with a reasonable settlement, you know that makes sense.

OSPREYSAINT wrote:

MGRA wrote:
I would love to be a fly on the wall at union HQ,,, they are up the creak on this one.... talk about stupid.... oh I would love to see their faces. Royston must be cracking open the ( modestly priced ) bubbly tonight.... he now has all the moral high ground, not just a big slice of it, the unions are now mute effectively because no matter what they say now no one will listen, just leaves the puppets to carry on setting fire to their wooden boat at sea to keep warm.... so very funny and so very soon to be sacked , the workshy lazy ****ards..... ( bit harsh !? ) , naaaaa

MGRA, Flies come from maggots, I wonder how long before your wish comes true?

loosehead wrote:

OSPREYSAINT wrote:

loosehead wrote:

resident in southampton east wrote:

Sotonians_lets_pull_




together wrote:
How disappointing. How long before they can sack the strikers and replace them? Why should residents have to put up with this? If the relationship has broken down irrevocably with these workers, to the extent that they will not accept the council proposals, then sadly time to call it a day, and offer their jobs to people who would be grateful for them. This should be done as soon as the council are legally able to.

would the councillors take a pay cut no but they have just got a 20% rise what do they do nothing

Get your facts right .the Tory's when they got power took a pay cut.an independent review said the councillors were paid to much but Royston wasn't paid enough & should have a pay rise which he has refused so where/when was this pay rise paid?

That doesn't make Royston a hero, he is probably so loaded it wouldn't make any difference. What is the obsession with you people to get your fellow human beings sacked or treated like dirt? The only reason you are bleating is because it is an inconvenience to you. Put more pressure on the Council to come up with a reasonable settlement, you know that makes sense.

Osprey your becoming a member of the Southy loony party.the last proposal put forward by YES the TORIES after ACAS which the unions wouldn't even negotiate & come to an amicable settlement has now been seen as the way forward with a few adjustments.the unions wouldn't have put this to their members if they didn't think it was a good offer.also how can 480 people against seemingly their unions wishes vote to continue action which 4,800 have to abide by?I don't want to see them sacked but as my view has pointed out council tax rises are a no no for two years ( Thank God) so this is the best they're going to get from either the Tory's or Labour & I feel now might be the time to consider giving the work to contractors.The saying you make your bed lie in it comes to mind,listen to people when the contractors come to empty bins there's no don't empty my bin scab or I'm on the side of the workers so leave my bin alone.most people are glad to see them & thank them for doing the job so sorry but the time of the contractor could be coming if these people don't wake up.Osprey once again the council have shown they're willing to listen & change as long as they can keep as many in jobs & cover the shortfall it's a pity it's taken until now for the union conveners to do so

MGRA wrote:

Dusty wrote:

waltons11 wrote:
Unbelievable!! When will this ever end?? I am just sick of the strikes, the noise of the pickets in the town, the mess - just to satisfy people's greed. Cuts have to be made - get over it!!

Greed? You define greed by not excepting a pay cut, how strange.

so do I. they are greedy because their T&Cs were already way above private sector. Their labour party caused this mess and they want others to pay for it.... thats stupidity, greed or both.

mummsie wrote:

Bitternegirl wrote: I say, give the workers what they want and ask the union members to then decide which 400 people have to lose their jobs. Get into the real world all you workers. Be thankful you have a job to go to. My husband had no choice, he was made redundant. If you had asked all his colleagues what they would prefer, a minor may cut, or keep their jobs. I know what they would have said. In the meantime, we will do your work for you, take our own rubbish to the tip. How much will we get paid to do it? Nothing, and not even a refund in the council tax.

We both think the same Bitternegirl and i bet a **** sight others will do also! Shall i or sharn't i pay the Council Tax this month or not? mmmmm! Will certainly make them wait for it !