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'Nothing left to do but strike'

from Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com)

BBC News

'Nothing left to do but strike'

Tens of thousands of civil servants will stage a two-day strike next week after voting for industrial action over pay.

Audrey Di Rizzio, who works as an admin officer at a Job Centre Plus in Kennington Park, London, will be striking on Thursday and Friday.

She has worked for the department for nearly 15 years and earns £12,000 a year for a 25 hour week.

She told BBC Radio Five Live she was fully behind the decision to strike.

"Only because I feel that it's the only thing left to do at this stage", she said.

"I can't afford to lose two days' wages but I'm prepared to do that if it's going to make my employers listen and make a difference and realise that we can't manage on what we are earning now.

"The pay offer they have given is not sufficient."

'Violent clients'

Ms Di Rizzio is a single mother with three children.

She supplements her wages with Child Tax Credit - £134 a week - which she says does not make much difference.

"It's not enough to raise my children," Ms Di Rizzio said.

She said her job could be very stressful. "Some of the clients that we see can be violent and threatening. I have dealt with situations myself where I have had to call for assistance from security guards. It's a very stressful job."

Ms Di Rizzio said she thought a reasonable wage for the job she did would be £20,000 a year.

"For the hours that I do and the stress that I take on board, I'd say no less than £20,000."

She said she realised the strike would affect people using the job centre.

"But in the long term if we are paid the money we deserve for the hours that we do and the work that we do and the stress that we are put through, then they will get a much better service."

She said strike action was the last straw.

"They have negotiated and negotiated and negotiated and there's nothing left to do but strike."

Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/1/hi/business/3417693.stm
Published: 2004/01/21 16:39:36 GMT
© BBC MMIV

(posted 7372 days ago)

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