PEACE THE FOUR week strike of 38 gardeners, working for Pritchards Industrial Cleaning Services in Wandsworth, finished this Monday when management con. ceded the majority of the workers' demands.
Management have agreed not to impose piece work targets will guarantee existing gross earnings as a minimum.
Demands for protective clothing and contracts of employment have been met In Tull.
Although management won recogust UNON fulltime officer they have conceded the workers' right to join and recruit to National Union Public Employees. Three NUPE shop stewards will have full representation and negotiating rights.
No practices disciplinary action will be imposed before negotiations with the stewards.
with inis victory the workers have stemmed come one won excesser of management.
Pritchards rely on exploiting their workforce to under cut direct council This was the reason for them winning the contract But, wherever Pritchards have won contracts the tale is the same - low Wealth and sara, disregard for instant dismissal, witch hunts and so on.
Although the workers return to conditions which still inadequate compared to most council employment, their action has shifted the balance of power dramatically. Their victory gives them the confidence to tackle further The dispute is also of great significance for the ight against the hive off of public services.
It reveals the aims and pit falls of privatisation Before the gardening section was effi. cient and there were very few public complaints.
Y'KNOW-SOMETIMES I WONDER IF WE WERE RIGHT TOLET Pritchards were given the contract when they claimed they could save £35,000 with among other things a reduction o gardeners to 9 full time on reduced wages and the reed to casual workers This saving is small in a contract worth £500,000 There lack of gardening management experience and cut in staff quickly led to contracts not being met • with fines to the Council mounting to £45,000 in three months.
Pritchards then attacked workers conditions further in a desperate attempt to cover the fines including the imposition of the wage cutting piece rate systemn Walka led LIC workers to take action.
rines have now reach GARI ed £84,000! This places the extreme right wing lor council in a difficult situation They desperately don't want to tear up the con. tract. They would lose face and direct labour is the next lowest tender they also can't justify hanging on to the Pritchards can't fulfill it.
Now inal Pritchards can't pass their fines onto the workers, they will have to subsidise the work more heavily from other parts of multi-national LICH Shareholdersil not please shareholders pence has already been knocked the WINDULG This struggle lessons for other workers resisting • Drivalisation. Speakers available Benlow Secretary District NUPE + Vecti: Rd, London SW17.
THE SCOTTISH Medical Aid Campaign ACTION has *From the logic of emindependence. Latin verge of becoming a seAmerican invasion anyone
----- pull-quotes -----
PRIVATISE THE PARK WORKERS!
A LIVING WAGE HONK FOR SUPPOE