Birmingham Bin Men
Birmingham's bin men are set to go on strike next week - again.
Needless to say the unions are making a big song and dance - pulling out all the stops.
The planned industrial action has support from the very top - national publicity and resources - and all because the interests of their male union members are threatened.
But contrast the unions' behaviour in Birmingham - with their track record over the past decade.
For 10 years and more the unions they failed to strike a blow in anger over equal pay - for the most part they just looked the other way - with not a single national protest or strike in sight.
As many people inside the trade unions know - for years women members were kept in the dark - as they were routinely paid only £6.00 an hour or so for their labours.
While their male colleagues - doing less skilled and responsible jobs - were getting £9.00 and £10.00 an hour.
So whatever the dispute in Birmingham is about - it's not about fairness and equal pay.
Needless to say the unions are making a big song and dance - pulling out all the stops.
The planned industrial action has support from the very top - national publicity and resources - and all because the interests of their male union members are threatened.
But contrast the unions' behaviour in Birmingham - with their track record over the past decade.
For 10 years and more the unions they failed to strike a blow in anger over equal pay - for the most part they just looked the other way - with not a single national protest or strike in sight.
As many people inside the trade unions know - for years women members were kept in the dark - as they were routinely paid only £6.00 an hour or so for their labours.
While their male colleagues - doing less skilled and responsible jobs - were getting £9.00 and £10.00 an hour.
So whatever the dispute in Birmingham is about - it's not about fairness and equal pay.
