
The Socialist 8 January 2020
Climate change. Poverty. War. Capitalism must go - fight for socialism

Suleimani's assassination - Middle East thrown into turmoil
Trump attacks Iran - London protest: We need workers' action against war and austerity
Build union resistance to Tory attacks
Defend the right to strike! - RMT and NSSN lobby parliament
2020: Class struggles and capitalist instability will intensify
Capitalism must go - fight for socialism
Trouble ahead for Johnson: Brexit is far from 'done'
Tory minimum wage hike not enough
Northern Rail franchise in question: nationalise the railways!
Children need intensive care? We don't care!
Shell pays £0 corporation tax, and plans huge hike in fossil output
Ignore the hype - austerity goes on: organise to resist
International wave of revolt continues
What next after the general election, for PCS and the left
Council concedes to striking winter gritters' demands
West Midlands RMT guards jobs saved
All we want for Christmas is a no-strings pay rise
Anti-academy strike action in Newham
Socialist Party members out on the streets
£50,240 - a new fighting fund record
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Carmarthenshire council concedes to striking winter gritters' demands
Mark Evans, Unison Carmarthenshire branch secretary
Plaid Cymru-led Carmarthenshire County has backed down in the face of determined industrial action by winter gritters. One of the placards produced by the workers' Unison branch for the picket lines summed it up when it said: "Dashing through the snow, with a 1,000k to go. Don't you think it fitting, we are paid for winter gritting".
Originally the employer, when talks started, wanted winter gritting to be contractual and employees only paid their hourly rate. The latest offer made by management on 19 December after two days of strike action offers a substantial retainer and meets virtually all our members' demands.
We can't give further details until our members get it first. Despite Plaid Cymru councillors' claims to the contrary the industrial action organised by GMB and Unison unions and supported by Unite was the result of the council making an insulting 'final offer' - ending the talks and refusing to go to conciliation service Acas. As a result all three unions balloted our members and all three passed the threshold with Unison hitting 100% in favour of strike action and action short of strike action.
When the council became aware of the ballot results another final offer of a £105 a week retainer was made. This was not sufficient to prevent industrial action although we did agree to conciliation talks at Acas.
The pickets that were organised at all four council depots in Carmarthenshire were well attended (about a third of the workforce turned out) in atrocious weather. Intimidation from management didn't work and the employer was forced to make another 'final offer' at the talks before making yet another improved offer and conceding to most of our demands.
We think our members will vote to accept this offer and it is down to their action that the council has capitulated. Also very important was that all three unions, GMB, Unison and Unite worked together to win this important victory.
This version of this article was first posted on the Socialist Party website on 20 December 2019 and may vary slightly from the version subsequently printed in The Socialist.
In this issue
Iran
Suleimani's assassination - Middle East thrown into turmoil
Trump attacks Iran - London protest: We need workers' action against war and austerity
Defend the right to strike
Build union resistance to Tory attacks
Defend the right to strike! - RMT and NSSN lobby parliament
What we think
2020: Class struggles and capitalist instability will intensify
News
Capitalism must go - fight for socialism
Trouble ahead for Johnson: Brexit is far from 'done'
Tory minimum wage hike not enough
Northern Rail franchise in question: nationalise the railways!
Children need intensive care? We don't care!
Shell pays £0 corporation tax, and plans huge hike in fossil output
Ignore the hype - austerity goes on: organise to resist
International wave of revolt continues
Workplace news
What next after the general election, for PCS and the left
Council concedes to striking winter gritters' demands
West Midlands RMT guards jobs saved
All we want for Christmas is a no-strings pay rise
Anti-academy strike action in Newham
Campaigns
Socialist Party members out on the streets
£50,240 - a new fighting fund record
Readers' opinion
Home | The Socialist 8 January 2020 | Join the Socialist Party
Related links:
Welsh schools close for safety after union pressure
Camarthenshire: Councillors' 'walk of shame'
Make a stand: set legal no-cuts council budgets
Undervalued gritters to walk out
Ryan Aldred: Why I'm standing for Usdaw's EC
Nottingham City Council: Major battles against cuts ahead
Welsh trades councils rally against the pay-freeze
Unison get sec election shows left can win NEC
Unison general secretary ballot closes
Women workers need strong trade unions to defend their jobs, pay and services
Steel site scaffolders strike for the 'rate of the job'
Rolls-Royce Barnoldswick factory future secured following strike action