21.12.1995

CPSA Fight against JSA

In brief

After a union meeting via Acas last week CPSA strikers in the Employment Service are continuing their action. At a meeting in Leeds members got hold of a leaked management letter stating that it was not prepared to discuss 1995 pay and was preparing to discipline some strikers because of alleged intimidation.

With management on the attack strikers decided it was a time for action, not talks. Forty offices are on strike at present with no immediate plans for escalation, although other offices are prepared to come out and may do so in the new year.

Annette Wright, a striker from Brent told us, “Escalation relies on the union organising levies. We cannot call out more offices on the present strike pay which is 85% of gross pay. Workers are linking our pay dispute to the question of Job Seekers Allowance because we are angry at what we are being asked to do. We will be put on performance related pay ... related to how many people we get off benefit!”

Linda Addison