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Camden News - by TOM FOOT
Published: 17 July 2008

Camden’s striking public sector workers on the march yesterday

Thousands strike over public sector pay dispute

MORE than 3,000 council workers walked out on strike yesterday (Wednesday) in a row over pay.
The 48-hour action closed or partially closed 16 libraries and 18 schools, disrupted rubbish collections and many other Town Hall services.
The public sector workers’ union Unison is calling for Camden Council to meet its demands for a pay increase in line with inflation.
Camden Unison branch secretary David Eggmore said: “Camden Council wastes millions of pounds paying staffing agencies and saved £15million last year by forcing staff to cover extra work of posts they cut. The same could be repeated across the country where estimated council reserves could give us a 6 per cent pay rise. Our members have suffered 10 years of below-inflation pay rises.”
Picket lines across Camden were “solid”, according to striking workers who later joined a London-wide demonstration in Lincoln’s Inn Fields and a rally in Friends House, Euston.
They are threatening further strikes if a 6 per cent pay increase, or 50 pence an hour rise, is not met.
Camden is offering 2.45 per cent, in line with a government benchmark for public sector pay.
Inflation officially reached the 3.8 per cent mark yesterday, with the rising food and fuel prices putting added pressure on the cost of living.
A council spokeswoman said: “Any residents who are concerned that a service they use could be affected by the strike can keep up to date with the latest by visiting our website – camden.gov.uk – throughout the action.”

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