Unite in West Lothian Council
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UNITE – BECAUSE YOU DESERVE BETTER! NEWSLETTER Local Authorities Update DATE 1 September 2020
A Day in the Life of a Janitor Newsletter (1)
A Day in the Life of a Janitor
Today our focus is on Rab who works for the City
of Edinburgh Council as a janitor. Rab (real
name changed to protect anonymity) has worked
for the Authority for over 15 years, 25 hours a
week and his weekly earnings are a mere £240
nearly half of the UK’s average wage*. Once
again, Unite is demonstrating how local
government workers should be highly valued
instead of low paid.
Give a brief description of your work
I work 5 hours a day – those hours are flexible for the Employer. I open up
my workplace, make sure the rooms are safe and set up properly as
directed by those using the facilities. I also shut and secure the premises.
Do you believe you have job security?
No – the way things are going everyone should be concerned. I don’t think
any council job is safe. Thankfully I am heading towards retirement but
anyone below the age of 50 must be really worried.
Do you feel at risk of COVID-19?
Yes, as facilities open and we have to return to work, I think we will all be
vulnerable. I have no idea the background or lifestyle habits those using my
workplace have and I am expected to trust they are behaving responsibly.
My employer wants things to return to what they were pre-COVID.
Do you think you will be exposing your family to danger?
Yes – and if I bring the CoronaVirus home, I could give it to my wife and
children. That’s a horrible thought.
What Support did you receive from your Employer?
I can’t think of any support I got. I had to phone my manager to keep in
touch with work during the whole of lockdown. Never once did they contact
or agree to contact me.
Do you think you are adequately paid?
No – with the amount of hassle I receive from my Employer I deserve a
decent pay rise. The treatment my colleagues and I receive is shocking. I
find it hard to get motivated and question on a daily basis is it worth getting
up!
*Average wage in UK is £31,830
Next Steps
Very shortly, Unite will be issuing a survey to all members via
email to find out your opinion on what your pay claim should be. It
is vital that you take part in this as we need the fullest possible
view of what the members want.
Are Your Membership Details Up-To-Date?
Check your details and membership online. To do this click on
https://myunite.unitetheunion.org/login – this will give you full
sight of the information Unite holds for you. This also allows you to
update your details.
If you are aware of any of your colleagues who would want a say in
their pay claim, forward this newsletter and encourage them to join
a union – encourage them to join Unite.
They can do this easily by
going to https://join.unitetheunion.org/
UNITE – BECAUSE YOU DESERVE BETTER!
Unite in West Lothian Council 