Workers concerned that productivity unit bonus leaves workers subject to management victimisation and undermines health and safety

Strike action commenced at roads service depots in west yesterday [Monday 3rd July] and due at depots in east from Thursday 6th July

July 4th: Roads Service workers in Unite the union have recommenced strike action in their industrial campaign to end pay being subject to manager’s discretion.

Like all other industrial civil servants, the basic pay of Roads Service workers is unacceptably low but workers are able to make up a living income through a productivity-based bonus. Over time the outputs workers have to deliver – and which must be signed off by managers – to secure bonus have increased, leaving workers struggling to make bonus much of the time. The result is that workers pay in the sector is among the very lowest in the civil service.

Unite the union members working in the Roads Service voted overwhelmingly for strike action to end the current productivity-unit bonus system which is widely held to leave workers subject to management victimisation and to pressurise workers to perform tasks either inadequately or with undue attention to health and safety.

The current strike action is only the latest in a series of actions since Winter. Pickets were established at roads service depots in the west on Monday July 3rd, and will continue every day until Friday [July 7th].

Strike action will commence in eastern depots from Thursday [6th July] and will continue weekdays until Tuesday [11th July]. Management have been informed that a further week of strike action is planned by workers in the west over the week straddling the end of July and beginning of August.

Unite the union General Secretary Sharon Graham offered her support to the striking Roads Service workers:

“It is unacceptable that Roads Service workers’ pay is subject to the whim of managers in a system which leaves workers open to unfair treatment. What is even more unacceptable is that workers feel themselves under pressure to complete tasks in timeframes that do not ensure adequate health and safety.

“Roads service maintenance work is inherently dangerous with work conducted alongside moving vehicles. Unite cannot and will not accept a situation where our members have to choose between securing a halfway decent wage or their health and safety on the job.”

Gareth Scott is lead regional officer for the Roads Service workers, and he called on Roads Service management to address his members’ concerns.

“This productivity-unit bonus system is exploitative, leaves workers subject to potential management victimisation and undermines health and safety at work. It needs scrapped.

“Roads Service workers are frankly indignant over the way they have been treated. There is a complete breakdown in relations between workers and management – with low pay and this productivity unit bonus system leaving workers feeling totally disrespected for the work they do. Management must address this situation quickly to avoid a further escalation of the strike action.”