'We can't afford to live on our wages'
HUNDREDS of council workers formed picket lines across South Devon yesterday to add their voices to the national pay dispute.
Teaching assistants — among others out on strike — told how they cannot afford to live on their wages and 'had to take a stand for a decent wage'.
Eight schools in the area closed and others had to recruit senior members of staff to take over responsibilities of classroom assistants, who joined the ranks of disgruntled workers.
Torquay and Totnes libraries closed in support of the two-day Unison strike and Dartmouth's lower ferry was also out of action.
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At Torquay Town Hall, almost 200 Unison members waved placards — and drivers of passing cars honked their horns in support of the industrial action.
At Teignbridge Council's Forde House offices, workers gathered to protest about the below-inflation Government pay rise of 2.45 per cent.
At Newton Abbot's Knowles Hill School and Coombeshead College, classroom assistants, IT and science technicians said they wanted a pay rise in line with other public sector workers.
Many full-time teaching assistants said they worked two jobs just to pay the bills and were struggling to cope.
Collette Palmer, a student support assistant at Knowles Hill School, said: “The pay rise does not cover the milk bill let alone the cost of living.”
As a result of strike action, the school library was closed.
Dan Chudleigh, another classroom assistant, said: “Many of us have two jobs just to survive. I clean part-time and another colleague works in a bar in the evenings.”
Yesterday, senior staff at Coombeshead College had to take on the job of classroom assistants and chaperone hundreds of pupils on school trips across Devon.
Teignbridge Unison union representative Christine Bolton said: “A lot of people are on full strike action and some people are doing core hours.
“There are a lot of members out on strike down at Teignbridge refuse and services today, but non-Unison members are not out on strike so there are still some vehicles going out to do collections.”
Forde House was left without reception staff until 10am yesterday as was Teignmouth tourist information centre.
Countryside ranger Simon Cunningham works at Decoy Country Park.
He said: “Everyone assumes that because we have a good job we will do it for nothing. A lot of graduates do volunteer work and the wages for those who are paid are very low.”
At South Hams Council, there was no picket line so Unison members travelled to Teignbridge and Torbay.
South Hams Council ICT project manager Andy Mollay said: “We have to take a stance against the difference between inflation versus the rates of pay.
“This could be the start of quite a lot of unrest.”
Bidwell Brook special school in Dartington closed because of the industrial action.
Unison representative Helen Boon is one of the 22 union members at the school who took part in the strike.
She said: “For 10 years we have been paid below inflation and we are fed up with it. We cannot afford to live on rubbish wages.”
There were six at a time manning the picket line set up near the mini roundabout opposite Dartington's Cider Press Centre.
Nationally, more than 600,000 Unison workers protested.
The unions' pay claim was for six per cent or 50p an hour, whichever was the greater.
Sheridan Provins is a learning support assistant at a special needs school during the week and a social services special needs assistant on Saturdays.
She joined protesters outside Torquay Town Hall.
She said: “It is about time workers in Torbay were paid a decent wage. Torbay learning support workers are some of the lowest in the area.
“I don't believe in striking but feel so strongly that I am here to stand up for a decent wage.”
Non-Unison member Leya Ostell, is a student social worker on a placement with Torbay Children's Services.
She said: “I am here supporting those people who work in local services.
“The Government don't value local services and they don't value the workers.”
Cllr Ray Frost, Teignbridge spokesman for human resources, said strike action would 'inevitably have some consequences' on services.
But he said: “Early indications show that the majority of key frontline services, such as refuse collections, will be covered.”
Torbay householders were being asked to put out refuse bins as normal despite the national industrial action by local authority employees.
A council spokesman said: “Collections are going ahead as normal but it will cause problems if people do not put bins out on the usual collection days.”
He said the civic amenity site at Yalberton, Paignton, is open.
Comments
by SCHOOL STAFF, Newton Abbot
Saturday, July 19 2008, 10:27AM
“Yes you're right Bill, many Council employees cannot afford a pension and their own homes along with Private Sector Workers. There are many 'Fatcats' that work for the Local Government - please don't tar us with the same brush.In many cases our wages are not much more above the minimum wage. We also do a lot of work in our own time which we don't get paid for.Some of us work in schools and not everyone can do our job. Many of us have a great deal of expertise, qualifications and patience which is not reflected in our salaries.On a day to day basis we deal with some very challenging pupils and the job can be very stressful. Schools are always advertising for school support staff, however, once applicants realise what they are expected to do for the money they soon change their minds.There's nothing stopping anyone from applying for these posts but most people have a better standard of living on benefits and some staff have left because of this. If we all did it the schools would close.”
by Bill, Paignton
Saturday, July 19 2008, 7:03AM
“Pension Scheme? The LGPS is a good pension scheme, but not all council employees can afford to take it up. No-one stops private sector employees from getting a private pension scheme either! People tend to forget that Public SECTOR employees pay the same taxes as Private Sector employees, we pay the same for our petrol, we pay the same for our bread, our kids go to the same schools. We aren't another species, and we certainly don't have a lot of the perks that people give us credit for.
As for our house-building colleagues; I have every sympathy with your plight. Having spent 5 years plying my 'trade' as a labourer, I know it's really tough for everyone at the moment. But council jobs are no more safe than yours! Just ask about reshaping!
The employers have £3billion sat in the bank as 'unallocated' reserves. For what exactly? Certainly not for you or me! We must all have paid some in to this 'reserve'
Maybe we should be asking more questions of our council and Mayor”
by John Delaney, Torquay
Friday, July 18 2008, 9:16AM
“It amazes me that all these people come out the wood work this is people who teach your kids or help them or empty your bins etc.
Torbay is one of the biggest employers for low paid workers instead of this council being so tight and wasting money they should increase staffs wages from 2.45 to at least 4% or more.
People who are self employed choose to be self employed and if they don't have pensions that is there faults some of these council workers will not have pensions.”
by John Delaney, Torquay
Friday, July 18 2008, 9:02AM
“If you are not happy with your job / wages you know what you can do - find another one! I get sick and tired of the selfishness of people who work for the council. Okay there are some decent people amongst them - probably those who are still working whilst the strike is on. There is however a lot of lazy layabouts too who sit about doing nothing and get paid for it. I wish I could have their holidays, final salary pension scheme, free parking, etc Angela, Paignton
Angela
They dont get the big pensions etc etc you stand in a school and have a small amjority of kids give you abuse you are very small minded”
by tom, torquay
Friday, July 18 2008, 2:36AM
“To Trevor,You are a very nice happy chap .Maybe you can save a few pounds for the homeless to maybe.”
by mark, paignton
Thursday, July 17 2008, 8:03PM
“I cant afford a pension if the weather is bad then I cant work we are struggling and you lot strike pathetic”
by Jon, Torbay
Thursday, July 17 2008, 7:53PM
“My wife is a Learning Support Assistant. She has gained HLTA status and has a great deal of expertise. She works long hours in her own time at home; this includes planning work and creating resources. She uses a lot of our own materials for this purpose which she isn't reimbursed for. She takes out large groups of SEN students and is totally committed to their Learning.For
this she gets paid a pathetic salary. It is a common misconception to believe that all school staff are paid an adequate salary. The pay increase is an insult. She didn't want to strike but felt that there was no alternative. The school's cleaning staff actually earn more than she does. When you are talking about a 2.45% increase this is less than £5 per week for her and that is before deductions! We listen to these poor MPs with their concerns for their second homes, furnishings and expenses. Some of us can't even buy our first home!”
by citizen smith, torquay
Thursday, July 17 2008, 7:30PM
“The issue is simple.Low pay.poor pay offer and discontent.Seems that the answer is that the offer is below inflation.Its not an issue then is it.?”
by Debbie, Torbay
Thursday, July 17 2008, 2:16PM
“Here Here Trevor. Well said.”
by Loon 3, Torbay
Thursday, July 17 2008, 2:11PM
“Trevor, it sounds as though you may have had a "cushy number", which is probably why you aren't working there anymore. I'm suprised that you gave it up to work for a "small private company", so it can't have been that good... It certainly hasn't been "a secure job" for some time, with annual redundancies (usually announced just before Christmas.) If you know so many well educated people who would be happy to work for the council, then why aren't they? There are plenty of vacancies (due to high staff turnover in some areas) - perhaps it isn't education that they lack, but APPROPRIATE education.”