(Editorial note: Lambeth dustmen are in the news again: the Tory council has made public threats to sack certain of them because "they have not been working hard enough" since the strike. The following article, which was received just too late for inclusion in our last issue, is still relevant despite the strike being over, because it explains the issues involved in that strike.)
"The Lambeth dustmen have been striking again. It's shocking, all that rubbish piling up. Something should be done about it."
Yes, the Lambeth dustmen have been on strike! Yes, it IS shocking! But why did they do it? Do they enjoy living on strike pay of £4 per week? Of course not! No working man chooses to have to make ends meet on strike pay and collections from other workers' hard-earned wages, so what is it all about?
[illegible] had a salvage agreement between [illegible] "totting" legal. However, the union agreed to a clause stating that the agreement could be terminated at one month's notice.
After a dispute in August 1968 between the dustmen and the Tory-controlled Lambeth Borough Council (the LBC was offering the men the basic daily wage for Saturday and Sunday working - clearing a backlog of refuse accumulated because of staff shortage, vehicle breakdowns, etc.) talks began on a new bonus scheme, but with no mention of [illegible].
Already, the dustmen were working a 25% work-studied scheme which had reduced their ranks by 54 men. The Council were now demanding a much higher rate of "productivity" which would reduce their ranks by a further 47 men. The dustmen also claim that the new productivity scheme would compel older men to give up the job - due to the extra work load - and would shorten the lives of the younger men. At the same time the Council wanted to remove the right to tot.
The men told the Council that if it terminated the old agreement on these conditions, then the men would strike.
Up until January this year the Council refused to discuss totting, terminating meetings when this subject was raised. During these months the council had adequate time to prepare for any action by the men. Thus when it announced that as from 24th January the salvage agreement would end, and the men retaliated by striking. Emergency refuse dumps were ready for use, and council buildings distributed disposable refuse containers.
The Council circulated all residents of Lambeth stating that the dustmen were striking because their right to tot was being removed and that, for them, £25 was not enough. No mention was made of the implications of the productivity items.
Certain Tory Councillers, who campaigned for election on a Powellite basis, came out at week-ends to act as strike-breakers. The Council also employed scab labour to shift the ever-growing piles of refuse - with ever decreasing success.
The Lambeth dustmen found no difficulty in getting support from dustmen in other boroughs, who willingly supported them by token strikes. At a meeting held on 24th February, it was agreed, with the help of the Lambeth Trades Council, to hold a mass meeting to organise support from other employees of the Lambeth Borough Council. Shortly after this the Council offered the men the lump sum of £450 should they return to work under the new agreement.
It appears that this lump sum has proved a sufficiently large carrot to induce the men to return to work. The Council has bought the productivity deal for a cash payment, and as for totting, well, dustmen are paid to handle rubbish anyway.