Today saw mass protests around Birmingham, culminating in a rally in Victoria Square and a march around the city where public sector workers showed their objection to changes to contracts, redundancies and pension reforms.
Among those protesting, I spoke to Library Workers dismayed by the council's decision to categorise them as generic council workers who could be called upon to work in any council function and not in the work for which they had experience and training.
This contract change, nicknamed the 'Martini Contract' after the old Martini advertising slogan which read "Anytime, Anyplace, Anywhere", is of great concern to many of the workers I spoke to who also expressed dismay at the removal of overtime/weekend payments, revised hours which could include Sundays and it being against the terms of the contract to get a second job.
Phillipa Hands who is a library steward described how her pay had only increased £3,000 over 21 years which in real terms amounts to a pay cut.
Below are a series of audio interviews with protesters, recorded in Victoria Square.
Among those protesting, I spoke to Library Workers dismayed by the council's decision to categorise them as generic council workers who could be called upon to work in any council function and not in the work for which they had experience and training.
This contract change, nicknamed the 'Martini Contract' after the old Martini advertising slogan which read "Anytime, Anyplace, Anywhere", is of great concern to many of the workers I spoke to who also expressed dismay at the removal of overtime/weekend payments, revised hours which could include Sundays and it being against the terms of the contract to get a second job.
Phillipa Hands who is a library steward described how her pay had only increased £3,000 over 21 years which in real terms amounts to a pay cut.
Below are a series of audio interviews with protesters, recorded in Victoria Square.
You can view the full agenda here and view the meeting in the video window below.
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On Thursday 24th February, Birmingham City University students joined up with union members to protest against the cuts in Birmingham. The Higher Education Funding Council (HEFCE) are planning to axe up to £940 million in funding for Universities in England in the next financial year with severe cuts to budgets and teaching. This could result in lecturers losing their jobs, whilst it is expected that approximately 4,300 jobs will be cut from the council itself over the next 4 years.
But it wasn't just the education cuts that people were protesting against. Amongst those who attended the protest was Pete Duffy, a representative for Cuts Against Council Conditions, who said he was disgusted at the proposed public sector cuts. "I work with people who work at the low end of the scale, such as cleaners and dinner ladies, and we are all against these cuts. These people are on a low pay and they can't afford for their wages to be cut. At a recent meeting, 95% of us voted that action needs to be taken. I will be attending the march in London, and I think action needs to be taken right now".
Also in attendance at the protest was NUT member, Stuart Richardson and Richard Hatcher who works at the University, who had some strong words to say about the budget cuts. "I believe that the cuts will decimate the board right across (the city). There isn't a family in Birmingham that won't be affected in some way by the Government". He also went on to comment on the effect the cuts will have in the Education sector. "I work in education and I understand how important education, especially early education, actually is. They're planning to cut back the Surestart programme, meaning that families and children who need to benefit from the scheme, wont".
However, opposition to the planned cuts is not limited to Birmingham. All across the country people are protesting against the cuts in their respective towns and cities, whilst a huge march is scheduled to take place in London on 26 March 2011, protesting the cuts to public spending. It is thought that up 250,000 members of the public will attend the protest, which has been organised by the Trades Union Congress.
For more information about the march in London and for details on transportation to London from Birmingham, visit http://www.coalitionofresistance.org.uk/2011/01/tuc-national-demonstration-against-cuts-26-march-london/
A half day strike by 180 Connexions workers has been called off due to progress in talks with Birmingham City Council.UNISON says it agreed to suspend the walk out after Council agreed to lift the immediate threat of compulsory redundancies pending further negotiations over the next 28 days.
UNISON made the decision after last minute talks with management and Councillor Les Lawrence.
Roger McKenzie, UNISON West Midlands Regional Secretary described the talks as constructive.
"As we all know, in other areas the Council have been less than constructive to say the least. Today just shows the progress that can be made when the Council sits down and talk to us with an open mind," McKenzie said in a statement.
Connexions provides guidance, support and personal development services for young people aged 13 - 19, with aid extended to the age of 25 for those with a disability.
A £13 million cut to the Children Young People and Families budget announced in July means 120 Connexions workers may lose their jobs. Offices have already closed in Erdington and Handsworth and workers are awaiting word on whether offices will also close at Broad Street, Kings Heath and Northfield.
Tony Rabaiotti, UNISON's head of local government said he's hopeful compulsory redundancies can be avoided altogether.
"Our stewards and our convenor in Connexions made it clear right from last August when we first heard of this 26% cut in the budget that we weren't going to roll over. Since that time we have inched further and further towards an agreement closer and closer to an agreement and I think with the input of Councillor Lawrence ...we finally managed to see a situation whereby we can get back round the negotiating table," Rabaiotti said.
Rabaiotti said if the talks go "belly up" the union can reinstate the strike action but only as a last resort.
Footage taken from inside the Millbank building yesterday while the student protest was taking place inside. Good to see events from a different perspective.
To follow the live blog from the London student demo, visit the Guardian website by clicking here.
The chancellor said the cuts would be a "challenge" but would be achieved through greater transparency and accountability.
The "shockingly poor" quality of financial data would also be improved.
The Commons Public Accounts Committee found only £15bn of a three-year £35bn savings programme outlined in 2007 had been achieved by 2009.
This left MPs "gravely concerned" about the possibility of making the larger reductions demanded in the recent Spending Review, its report added.
Read the full story here.
Birmingham City Council is set lose 79 full-time posts as it merges its planning and regeneration departments into a single team.
Its plan will mean cutting the team by one third, and setting up smaller planning and regeneration teams based in different areas across the city. It means all staff in both team will have to reapply for their jobs.
The council says the move will help it to implement the Big City Plan and provide a single point of contact for developers and the public.
The news coincides with an announcement today from three London borough councils that they will merge to form a “super-council”. Westminster, Hammersmith and Fulham, and Kensington and Chelsea will give in February give further detail on how they will share the same corporate services deparment.
Waheed Nazir, director of regeneration at Birmingham, said: “By merging these services together I believe we can deliver a more focused, efficient and multi-skilled service, removing duplication and delivering better value for money.
“In their new roles we hope all planning and regeneration staff will be more versatile, multi-skilled and develop a more flexible approach, which will benefit both them and the services they are delivering.”
In the spending review today, the Chancellor announced that there will be a new high speed rail link (HS2) from London to Birmingham and then to both Manchester and Leeds, that Midland Metro will receive a route extension and capcity increase and Birmingham New Street station will receive an upgrade.
Read the full spending review online here.
The social housing budget in England is to be cut by more than 50% in the Spending Review, the BBC understands.Read the full article here.
The leaders of 35 of the UK's biggest companies have expressed their support for the government's plans for spending cuts running into billions of pounds.Read the full story on the BBC News Site.
See Also:
The Periscope Post >> Big businesses back Osborne
18 OCT. 2010 MOST of Birmingham’s community day nurseries will be given a reprieve as city council leaders prepare to water down a closure programme.
Nineteen nurseries and children’s centres, which mostly provide free places for low-income families are to remain open following a consultation exercise.
But the closures of four nurseries in buildings deemed unfit for purpose are expected to be confirmed by the council cabinet, saving the city £3 million a year.
They are Claremont nursery in Sparkbrook and Tyburn Road nursery. Both were forced to close in the summer following flooding and health and safety issues. Two other nurseries to shut are Clopton Road in Garretts Green and Bacchus Road, in Soho.
Read More at The Birmingham Mail: http://www.birminghammail.net/news/top-stories/2010/10/18/birmingham-city-council-ready-to-reduce-number-of-day-nurseries-it-plans-to-close-97319-27490593/#ixzz12hRM9FfA
Concerns are prompted partly by fears that the increase in student fees will be offset by a dramatic cut in central government funding, to be confirmed in the Comprehensive Spending Review on October 20.
Read full article in Birmingham Post: http://www.birminghampost.net/news/west-midlands-education-news/2010/10/15/universities-at-risk-over-increase-in-fees-warn-vice-chancellors-65233-27473216/#ixzz12bhPg7yt
Related Links:
Download the full report
Download a summary of the report
Browne Review website
BIS Press Notice
Related article:
Birmingham views on tuition fees report (BBC)