Green Party commits total support to Birmingham City Council workers
10 January 2008
Public protest at Birmingham City Council officesSaturday 12th JanuaryMidday
Green Principal Speaker Dr Derek Wall today led Green Party support for the 40,000 Birmingham City Council employees being dismissed and forced to re-apply for their jobs.
Despite overwhelming opposition from Trade Unions the City Council intend to make employees re-apply for their old positions, often on lower terms and worst conditions. The Council is also embarking on a massive programme of outsourcing many frontline services. Crucial public service posts like finance, HR & customer service points have already been outsourced to Capita, with more decisions planned.
Dr. Wall said:
'"I condemn Birmingham City Council's plans to dismiss and re-employ all 40,000 of their workers on new and presumably lower pay grades. Unison has the 100% support of the Green Party in opposing these measures and Birmingham Green Party is mobilising to support their protest. Privatising jobs is the essential message here and we need to prevent it occuring.
"It seems PFI has once again reared its ugly head.
"Flexible labour markets are defended in terms of cost gains and efficiency but they always mean pay cuts and insecurity. Restructuring always means misery for workers. Green politics is about social justice but Birmingham City Council are attempting to push down pay and reduce security for their workers. This most be resisted.
"I urge people who believe in fair workers' rights to attend the planned public demonstration outside Birmingham City Council offices on Saturday."
