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November 2006

November 5th 2006

Britain: trade union condemns employer over high-paid workers scandal

The trade union Amicus has condemned Birmingham City Council for refusing to agree a joint statement regarding inaccurate press stories which have targeted two council employees who are also Amicus representatives.

The press has also published information on the salary of another worker who is a representative for the Transport and General Workers’ Union.

Since confidential details relating to these workers were leaked to the press last week, there has been a national media campaign designed to stir up public outrage at the high wages which the men allegedly receive. 

According to the Birmingham Post:

“The three [trade union] convenors are among 15 workers out of 140 employed at the street lighting and highways direct labour organisations to be paid in excess of £50,000 a year. The Direct Labour Organisation's total wage bill is £2 million.

“In most cases, basic salaries are more than doubled by overtime and bonus payments.”

John Allot, the Amicus National Officer for Local Authorities, responded: "In the coming months our members will be working round the clock to keep the lights on and to get the decorations up for Christmas.

"The rates of pay for electricians working in the public sector are directly comparable to the rates of pay in the private sector. There are fewer and fewer electricians being recruited in the public sector and there are growing demands for public sector employees to work longer hours. Many work between 50 and 70 hours a week to keep the lights on in Birmingham and other cities across the UK."

"It doesn't take a bright spark to figure out that there is someone out there with an agenda. It is no secret that our members who've been attacked in the press have been at the forefront of the campaign to keep Birmingham City councils' electrical engineering out of the private sector. "

Amicus is considering bringing a claim against the council for victimisation of union representatives for carrying out their trade union activities, on behalf of the two Amicus representatives. The union is calling for an inquiry to identify the source of the leak and the misrepresentation of the facts.

Furthermore, the union is gravely concerned that there may have been breaches of the data protection act and a failing in the council’s duty of care for employees.

Amicus claims that information appearing in the media to date has been grossly inaccurate. The union had asked the council to issue a joint statement to set the record straight and put an end to the victimisation which its members have had to endure, including physical threats.

Amicus strongly suspects that these workers have been singled out because they successfully campaigned to keep Birmingham public works under public control.  

Amicus Assistant General Secretary Gail Cartmail said, "This is an attack on the whole of the public sector. The Government are rushing headlong into privatisation. The stakes are high and innocent people are being hurt as a result."