WILTSHIRE Council-hired traffic wardens were protesting outside Salisbury Library today over their “10 per cent pay cut”.
Members of the trade union for Wiltshire Council staff, GMB, assembled this morning, May 3, at 11am to bring more attention to their upcoming strike this Saturday, May 7.
GMB says it has planned strike action due to Wiltshire Council’s proposal in December to save £8,000 by stopping unsocial hours payments to some key workers.
Andy Newman, private secretary of the GMB, organised the protest and told the Journal that “traffic wardens would lose about £2,000 a year” if the proposals go through.
GMB estimates that each day of strike action could cost the council up to £30,000.
Andy said: “The pay cut for traffic wardens is only going to save them about £60,000 over the whole year.”
Andy emphasised the impact of the ongoing cost of the living crisis, he added: “If they lose this money, it will make the job uncompetitive, and people will leave. Nobody can afford a 10 per cent pay cut.
“The council has paused the pay cut but not taken it off the table so it is still hanging over people’s heads like a sword and they can’t plan ahead.”
Traffic wardens worked through the pandemic as key workers, some were staffing vaccination and testing centres.
“These were Covid heroes that we were out clapping every Thursday and they’re being repaid by the council cutting their wages,” Andy added.
Terence Herbert, Chief Executive of Wiltshire Council, said: “The timing of today’s protest by some GMB Union members is interesting, as nothing has been decided as yet in terms of proposed changes to staff terms and conditions.
“Discussions with the three recognised unions – Unison, Unite the Union and GMB – over proposed changes to terms and conditions are ongoing.
“Workers’ pay is not being cut. We are reviewing our unsocial hours, standby and call out policies, and no final decisions have been made as the negotiations continue. However, we do need to make some changes to agree policies that are standardised, fit for purpose, financially viable and support delivery of our business plan, while ensuring staff are fairly and appropriately rewarded.
“We’ll continue to engage with the three recognised unions positively to reach a resolution.”
Keith Roberts, GMB regional organiser, said: “We regret any disruption to the public, but the council has forced this action upon us.
“Wiltshire Council will feel the pain because parking fines bring in around £900,000 per year, and car park charges bring in about £9 million for them.
“By cutting pay for these workers, they are killing the goose that lays them the golden eggs."
On Saturday there will be a picket line at Salisbury Library from 6am, with a rally and demonstration from 1pm in the city.
Afterwards, at around 1.40pm, there will be speakers from GMB Union on Salisbury Library’s steps.
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