Agenda item

Copy attached

It was moved by Councillor Halsall, seconded by Councillor Lunn-Bates:

Sefton’s Workers

This Council believes:

That workers have been for too long holding up the economy with restrained wages. Workers now should not foot the bill for this government’s ineptitude in dealing with Covid and economic problems caused by their own actions/inactions.

Workers being forced to take strike action is always the last thing they want; this shows just how much they have been forced into a corner with the current wave of industrial action across many sectors.

This Council Notes:

Workers both public and private sector not only deserve but need a pay rise, guarantees to terms and conditions long hard fought and won, and to have the ability to negotiate directly with their employers in good faith.  This government have decided rather than to settle these disputes, that they’d rather wage a relentless war on this country’s various trade unions. This year we have seen bus drivers, railway workers, manufacturing workers all the way through to our ambulance staff and for the first time in 106 years our nurses have felt the need to go on strike. With our firefighters looking like they will be joining the growing number of frustrated workers nationally.

This Council resolves to:

1.      Put on record its support to all workers in their collective struggles

2.     Put on record its thanks for the work they do to keep our economy and public services moving and often operating under extreme pressure;

3.     Write to the relevant Secretaries of State with regard to health workers and transport workers urging them to negotiate fairly with trade unions and end these disputes amicably; and

4.     Recognise the rich history of the trade union movement here in Sefton.

An amendment was moved by Councillor Pugh, seconded by Councillor Brodie-Browne that the Motion be amended as follows:

Delete Line 2

Line 3 - adding (and not citizens) after workers

Line 3 - the text ‘now should not’ be replaced by ‘should have to’

Line 4 replace after ‘caused by’ with ‘either actions or inactions - including its botched post-Brexit trade policy.’

Delete Lines 5, 6 and 7

Delete from ‘this government’ to ‘nationally’

Line 19 - change ‘all workers in their collective struggles’ to ‘for free collective bargaining’

Replace Line 22, 23 & 24 with ‘the need for fair negotiation with the unions to end current disputes amicably’

Following a debate on the amendment, the Chief Legal and Democratic Officer officiated a vote and the Mayor declared that the amendment was lost by 7 votes to 49.

Following a debate on the Original Motion, the Chief Legal and Democratic Officer officiated a vote and the Mayor declared that the Motion was carried by 42 votes to 6 with 8 abstentions, and it was:

RESOLVED:

Sefton’s Workers

This Council believes:

That workers have been for too long holding up the economy with restrained wages. Workers now should not foot the bill for this government’s ineptitude in dealing with Covid and economic problems caused by their own actions/inactions.

Workers being forced to take strike action is always the last thing they want; this shows just how much they have been forced into a corner with the current wave of industrial action across many sectors.

This Council Notes:

Workers both public and private sector not only deserve but need a pay rise, guarantees to terms and conditions long hard fought and won, and to have the ability to negotiate directly with their employers in good faith.  This government have decided rather than to settle these disputes, that they’d rather wage a relentless war on this country’s various trade unions. This year we have seen bus drivers, railway workers, manufacturing workers all the way through to our ambulance staff and for the first time in 106 years our nurses have felt the need to go on strike. With our firefighters looking like they will be joining the growing number of frustrated workers nationally.

This Council resolves to:

1.      Put on record its support to all workers in their collective struggles

2.     Put on record its thanks for the work they do to keep our economy and public services moving and often operating under extreme pressure;

3.     Write to the relevant Secretaries of State with regard to health workers and transport workers urging them to negotiate fairly with trade unions and end these disputes amicably; and

4.     Recognise the rich history of the trade union movement here in Sefton.