Monday, July 25, 2005
Towing the line...
Strikes are like buses - nothing for ages then you get two in a row!
It has been a strange few days. In the space of 5 days I have joined 2 separate picket lines in support of strikers. The first was with contracted cleaners from the House of Commons who were on strike on Wednesday 20th. The contracted cleaners are paid just £5 an hour with no company pay or sick pension, and only 12 days annual leave. They are fighting through the TGWU for better pay, terms and conditions - £6.70 an hour; 20 days holiday; sick pay and a company pension. We shouldn’t tolerate cleaners in the Houses of Parliament working on less than a living wage – they are hard working and dedicated people who help keep this amazing building going. Cleaners employed by the House authorities were not involved in the dispute – but the situation has resulted in a two tier workforce. The House authorities have been negotiating with the companies to try to encourage a better deal for their employees.
The second picket line was today with local journalists from the Wandsworth Borough News and local Guardian who will be striking until 27th July. Newly qualified journalists on the Wandsworth Borough News and the Surrey Comet suffer from low pay and poor working conditions, and are surviving on less than the average wage in London. The owners of the papers made a £750 million profit last year, but this is not invested in local staff.
Journalists are not a profession that one usually has sympathy for. In fact, as a former lawyer and current politician I am relieved that there is a profession held in lower repute then my profession! However, like politicians (and lawyers) there are big big exceptions to the stereotype. Local journalists do a brilliant job on very low pay. I have always been impressed by their commitment and professionalism during my years as a Councillor in Tooting, and now as the MP. There is more about the strike on the NUJ website here. There is a picture of me with the strikers here.
There are practical things we can all do to support our excellent local journalists:
It has been a strange few days. In the space of 5 days I have joined 2 separate picket lines in support of strikers. The first was with contracted cleaners from the House of Commons who were on strike on Wednesday 20th. The contracted cleaners are paid just £5 an hour with no company pay or sick pension, and only 12 days annual leave. They are fighting through the TGWU for better pay, terms and conditions - £6.70 an hour; 20 days holiday; sick pay and a company pension. We shouldn’t tolerate cleaners in the Houses of Parliament working on less than a living wage – they are hard working and dedicated people who help keep this amazing building going. Cleaners employed by the House authorities were not involved in the dispute – but the situation has resulted in a two tier workforce. The House authorities have been negotiating with the companies to try to encourage a better deal for their employees.
The second picket line was today with local journalists from the Wandsworth Borough News and local Guardian who will be striking until 27th July. Newly qualified journalists on the Wandsworth Borough News and the Surrey Comet suffer from low pay and poor working conditions, and are surviving on less than the average wage in London. The owners of the papers made a £750 million profit last year, but this is not invested in local staff.
Journalists are not a profession that one usually has sympathy for. In fact, as a former lawyer and current politician I am relieved that there is a profession held in lower repute then my profession! However, like politicians (and lawyers) there are big big exceptions to the stereotype. Local journalists do a brilliant job on very low pay. I have always been impressed by their commitment and professionalism during my years as a Councillor in Tooting, and now as the MP. There is more about the strike on the NUJ website here. There is a picture of me with the strikers here.
There are practical things we can all do to support our excellent local journalists:
- send a letter supporting their case for fair pay to Paul Davidson, Chief Executive, Newsquest, Morden, SM4 5BR, or email him at pdavidson@newsquest.co.uk
- Contact your local paper to say you believe professional journalists should receive professional pay
- Sign the petition on the NUJ website
- Send a message of support to us at endlowpay@nuj.org.uk
Sadiq
