Posted on 02/12/2010 1:09:48 PM PST by marshmallow
Church of England staff could man picket lines outside the Archbishop of Canterbury’s historic residence for the first time ever, in a dispute over pay.
Union leaders who are balloting the national church’s lay workers over industrial action next month claim that it is not “Christian behaviour” to freeze their pay.
About 100 members of Church staff are members of the Public & Commercial Services Union, which also represents thousands of civil servants.
Some work at Church House in Westminster for the Church Commissioners, who manage a £5billion property and investment portfolio; the clergy pension board; and the Archbishops’ Council, a central policy body.
Others are employed at Lambeth Palace, the Archbishop of Canterbury’s official residence on the banks of the Thames since the 13th century, and Bishopthorpe, the Archbishop of York’s palace.
The PCS asked for a 3 per cent pay rise last summer but claims it was told by the National Church Institutions that no extra money was available. At the same time, it says staff are having to contribute an extra 1.6 per cent into their pension pots.
The union then requested a 1 per cent rise for the lowest paid or a goodwill gesture of extra holiday between Christmas and New Year, but says that too was refused.
Now, “for the first time in history”, the Church staff are being balloted over industrial action. Local reps claim there is support for a half-day strike, which is pencilled in for the afternoon of March 12 depending on the result of the ballot.
A note sent to all PCS Church members states: “It is intended that there will be picket lines outside Lambeth Palace and Church House as well as other relevant sites and we hope to attract a strong media presence and interest in this historically unique dispute.
(Excerpt) Read more at telegraph.co.uk ...
Screw them.
Is the Church of England extensively tax payer supported? I want to know where they get the money to hire unionized labor.
Non-union labor? You might as well suggest the City of Chicago hire non-union labor.
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