Press Release
TV License workers to join November 30 strike
24 November 2011
Hundreds of workers at TV Licensing employed by Capita will join millions of public sector workers by going on strike next Wednesday, November 30.
This will be the fourth day of strike action that these members of the Communication Workers Union will have taken in a long-running dispute over pay. The majority of them had never been involved in any industrial action before Capita refused to increase a pay offer worth around 2.6%. Capita makes more than £1 million profit every day and last year gave the CEO and other senior executives a 17% pay rise.
Andy Furey, CWU assistant secretary representing Capita members, said: “There are many similarities between what our members are fighting for – a fair pay rise – and the dispute that public sector workers are in – seeking fair and affordable pensions.
“We both face powerful employers who say they can't afford more. In our case the truth is the company makes over £1 million profit every day and gives its senior executives generous pay rises, while in the case of public sector workers the costings by independent parties like ONS show that the government's changes aren't necessary for affordable funding. In both cases there are political and ideological forces at play.
“We're here to speak for people who being treated wrongly. We want to resolve this dispute through negotiation and I'm again appealing to Capita to return to talks to resolve this dispute before Christmas.”
Picket lines Wednesday 30th November:
Bristol: 7:30 – 10:30am 100 Temple Street, Bristol, BS98 1TL
Strikers will join the public sector march from College Green to Castle Park in Bristol.
Darwen: 7:30 – 10:30am India Mill, Bolton Road, Darwen, BB3 1YX
Brian Taylor CWU rep at Capita is speaking at the Blackburn public services strike rally outside Blackburn Town Hall, 12:30pm.
Staff in Bristol and Darwen, and a small number in Glasgow, work in call centre and support roles and will be on strike on Wednesday 30th November. Enforcement officers who work in the field are on strike from 4 - 9pm on 30th November.
Notes:
· Capita staff working on the BBC TV licensing contract haven't had a pay rise for almost two years. They rejected the original offer from Capita by 88 per cent in a consultative ballot. This was impose din October.
· Staff have already staged three walkouts – on 17th and 31st October and 18th November.
· CWU balloted 586 Capita workers. 301 members voted in favour of strike action, with 89 members voting against, giving a 77.2 per cent yes vote on a 66.6 per cent turnout.
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