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Monday, 25 July 2005 16:27 |
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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:
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