Strike reaction!

Jul 22 2008 by Andrew Jackson, Huddersfield Daily Examiner

LAST week’s council workers strike hit people where it really hurt - bins and education.

Around 80 schools in Kirklees were shut by the absence of cleaners, dinner staff and teaching assistants.

Plus 20,000 homes can expect not to have their bins collected for a month if their collection fell during the strike.

www.examiner.co.uk saw strong opinions with Dave50 letting rip: “If these people think I will put up with another rise in an already obscene council tax to pay for their nice pay rise not to mention their final salary pension scheme, then they can think again. Half of them wouldn’t last two minutes out in the real world.”

HGL said: “If these strikers are so underpaid and the working conditions so terrible then why don’t they leave and find a better job? Not many do because they know which side their bread is buttered on.”

On the other side of the argument ssocialdrummer said: “I am a council employee and have been for 24 years. For the last ten years I have received a below inflation pay rise, ie: a wage cut ten years in a row.

“We look after the elderly, house the homeless, look after vulnerable children, help the mentally unwell, empty your bins and lots more you don’t even realise, we do this week in week out, but I and thousands of others have had enough. We deserve a better deal.”

Fellow council worker Jarhielt added: “First off, those who are striking provide a valuable service which 80% of the population seems to take for granted.

“So having a whine at us for asking for a small increase just so we can survive and clean up after the rich and teach their snotty nosed little brats is far from unreasonable.

“If you’re wanting to complain about anything it should be the government and the major miss-management of resources. But then why would you as your lives are sorted and you don’t have to do any thing in return for society.

“The ones complaining about these strikes are the self centered selfish people who want everything for free.”