Is this Transport House?
As someone who has worked in Local Government for over 20 years and mostly as a trade union steward, I can honestly say that the current cuts being passed onto Councils from London are huge. I spent 12 months as a Senior Officer negotiating many cuts with managers and it has been as difficult for them as it has for us. In fact, it was quite a 'team-building' exercise at times.
Looking at all 22 Welsh Authorities, they have all managed the cuts in different ways, but have been given a sensible steer by the Welsh Local Government Association (WLGA). Then, there are the Labour controlled Councils. Both Rhondda Cynon Taf and Neath Port Talbot (they only control 2 outright) chose not to follow the advice of the WLGA and instead followed the advice of the Local Government Association (LGA). The LGA is controlled and dominated by right wing Tory English Councils and they have been advising Councils not to bother negotiating cuts, but just serving notice on their staff to force them through. This is what was done by the Labour Councils in Wales.
The Council staff have effectively had a gun held to their head and have been told, 'sign your new contract or you are out of a job.' This is not just my opinion, but the opinion of the public sector unions.
So why is it that the very same unions are asking their members to vote for these charlatans?
So maybe you think I'm just giving half the story. Have Plaid Councils treated their staff the same? Well, no they have not. In fact, even the only Tory controlled Council in Wales (Monmouth) has not treated their staff with such utter contempt. This may explain the Labour First Minster recently making a panic visit to RCT to try to resolve the dispute between the staff and Labour Councillors. His visit appears to have made matters worse, so his negotiating skills do not seem to be up to much.
To add to Labour's shameful actions, the Labour group in Carmarthenshire Council have supported the Council in cutting the facilities times for Unite trade union activists. This work time is given to employees to represent their members and these volunteers are currently absolutely flat out dealing with job evaluation, enormous cuts and single status negotiations.
The statements above are not accusations but facts supported by the public sector unions; the very same unions who not only give money to Labour but also are calling on Council workers to vote for them.
What you have to ask yourself, is do you want to vote for a party that takes your cash with one hand and stabs you in the back with the other?
I don't, so I'm not voting for them. Are you?
