Public servants stage marches in bid to protect rights
PUBLIC sector workers used their lunch break to march in protest at Government plans to cut the benefits of their jobs.
Across the South West members of the Public and Commercial Services Union protested outside their workplaces over Government plans to change their working conditions.
In Derriford about 50 union members, including staff from the Land Registry, marched to Crownhill Fort to register their opposition.
Mary Graves from the Skills Funding Agency, who joined them, said: "Once you have entered into a contract with somebody – as we have with our conditions of employment – it should be legally binding.
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"To change it without consultation is illegal."
Dave Franklin, branch chair at the Land Registry, said: "There have been no negotiations with trades unions on these proposals."
He said the changes were due to commence for new starters in the new year, and for existing staff from 2015.
Among the changes will be cuts to sick pay, and "privilege day" holidays – like the Queen's Birthday – will be scrapped.
"The PCS is totally opposed to yet another attack on our members," he said. "We have already suffered at least two years of pay freezes, increased pension contribution and worse pension benefits.
"These attacks are all justified on the basis of the economic crisis, yet none of our members caused this crisis, but we are being unjustifiably singled out to pay for it."
Mr Franklin added: "The protests are not industrial action – they were in members' own time, and were not intended to disrupt the smooth running of departments, nor to inconvenience the public."
Crownhill Fort, which is owned and run by the Landmark Trust, was not connected with the protest.
Comments
by lemon_entry
Sunday, December 02 2012, 1:56PM
“Why are we still employing servants - it's 2012 after all!”
by jabbathebutt
Sunday, December 02 2012, 10:40AM
“A missed lunch break not sat at a desk eating a sarnie but eating it on the go. Not quite on par with the greek riots and very unlikely to send a shiver down anyones spine.”
by martinadams
Saturday, December 01 2012, 7:28PM
“my job as a Plymouth based parking attendant has just increased by over 3 fold with the introduction of three other sites. We are not only expected to manage these sites but also to clean them. (In 1 instance, to sweep a 10 floor multi storey car park with a 17 inch brush)' Have we seen a rise in our earnings ? No, not one penny. Welcome to the real world ! ! ! Oh the name of my employer is Britannia Parking Ltd.”
by marcmarc
Saturday, December 01 2012, 6:43PM
“Sack the lot of them.”