Coventry youth workers' strike

Coventry youth workers' strike - CYWU Unite members, photo Clive Dunkley (Click to enlarge)

Youth workers in Coventry were involved in a solid one day strike on 5 February. The CYWU Unite members held a rally outside the Council House to protest at the imposition of new contracts.

As the youth workers explained: "Some people face losing up to Ł6,000 a year, and will end up having to do the same amount of work while topping up their wages by claiming benefits!"

Services for young people in the city will also be hit. Vital youth services will be available for up to ten weeks less than they are now in some cases. Both part time and full time staff will be affected with full time workers losing their professional status and JNC terms and conditions.

Coventry youth workers' strike - CYWU Unite members, photo Clive Dunkley (Click to enlarge)

Coventry is already suffering job cuts in all sectors, the loss of the vast majority of our industry and has particularly high rates of youth unemployment.

Socialist Party councillor Rob Windsor will be working with the CYWU Unite activists and another petition will be presented to the council.

Doug Nicholls, national secretary of the CYWU, told the lobby that further strike action will be called in the near future if Coventry city council refuses to reverse these savage cuts in young people's services.