Youth Service – Fighting the Liverpool cuts
WORKERS, APR 2006 ISSUE
Liverpool youth workers in the Community and Youth Workers Union (CYWU), supported by Unison, the NUT and T&G, livened up the city centre on 11 March with a march led off by a 30 piece Samba band. The march was joined by CYWU members from all over the country and by parents and young people.
They were drawing attention to the disastrous effects that would result from the council's proposals to remove national terms and conditions. Some members would lose up to £9,000 a year and even more off pensions, and the service would end the link to professional qualifications enshrined in the national agreement. Already, workers have been harassed to accept new posts.
Speakers at the rally described Liverpool as one of the worst council employers in the country. The chief executive, worried at the prospect of worsening pension provision, has already jumped ship, enjoying a massive golden handshake while Liverpool remains one of the low wage areas of Europe.
The CYWU's General Secretary said the union was not just going to win this struggle but restore national terms and conditions to other Merseyside authorities where the same managers now wreaking havoc in Liverpool had done damage before.
The council's actions have been one of the best recruiters to CYWU for many years. Despite a small workforce, 50 members regularly attend branch meetings, and all members are playing their part in organising different elements of the struggle which includes collective grievances, lobbying and a ballot for strike action.
The branch has grown, is much more conscious of workers' issues and is thriving and united. It has seen members refuse to cross other unions' picket lines and has been among the first to support other CYWU branches in struggle.