Manning the GatesToday I awoke from my slumbers at a very unearthly hour so that I could join my colleagues on the picket line outside my building. The temperature when I arrived was -5 so I was glad I had dressed with extra layers.

Hundreds of civil servants across Shropshire launched a 48-hour strike joining the 270,000 that are expected to strike around the country in a row over redundancy pay. This is the biggest walk out of civil servants since 1987. We received welcome support from passing motorists and colleagues from other Trade Unions.

We are taking action because the Government have scrapped the old terms and conditions of the Civil Service Compensation Scheme and, after several months negotiating with Trade Unions, decided to impose new terms without mutual agreement. The PCS Union is seeking to get back to the negotiating table and come to a mutually agreeable set of terms and conditions.

After manning picket lines I met up with other Shropshire activists to attended a march and rally in Birmingham along with around 200 other people from across the Midlands region. The rally was addressed by the Midlands Regional Chairman, Tony Conway, the PCS Assistant Secretary, Chris Baugh, and speakers from Amicus, NUT and the FBU, who generously presented us with a donation of £1000 towards the hardship fund.

After the rally there was time for a relaxing drink with friends and colleagues before heading home for a well earned rest.

Related links:

Shropshire Star Front Page

Shropshire Star – Workers Walk Out

Picket Lines Photo Gallery

Birmingham March & Rally Photo Gallery

Making a Point

16 Comments CherryPie on Mar 8th 2010

16 Responses to “First Day of Action”

  1. hope it works out! (and glad you stayed warm!)
    ….can’t let Them walk all over you!

  2. Claudia says:

    Bonne Chance! If I would be around, I would go and bring all of you hot drinks and treats. I did that when my son’s department went on strike, in the winter time, a few years ago. It lasted 3 weeks. I’m glad you’re doing only 48 hours. I don’t know why civil servants (everywhere) have to strike to be treated properly by their own government.

    • CherryPie says:

      That would be lovely :-) Someone from one of the other departments brought us out warm pot of coffee and biscuits today which was much appreciated.

      Our government doesn’t treat anyone very well at the moment.

  3. Steve Hayes says:

    More power to your (collective) elbow.

    Nil illegitime carborundum! (hot dog Latin for “Don’t let the bastards grind you down).

  4. angus says:

    Good luck CherryPie, M&S do some great thermals:)

  5. jameshigham says:

    Big movement and the first of so many – poor old country we have now.

  6. It sounded like a fair turnout. I must admit my knee was too painful to do the London march

    • CherryPie says:

      It did sound like a good turnout. It is a shame about your knee I am sure you would really have enjoyed the march. If I wasn’t on the picket lines I might have made it there myself.

  7. kath says:

    Hang on in there gal!

  8. [...] someone who doesn’t do mornings three in one week is just a bit much.

  9. [...] first picture is of friends and colleagues during a demonstration in Birmingham last week where we were campaigning to keep our terms and [...]