Kirkby Times has run a few critical articles concerning Knowsley
Housing Trust. The articles are not critical not of the ordinary workers,
but of the management and the decision makers. I've lived in KHT property
so have some knowledge of the matter and an interest. We all do. If KHT
is being run well, we all benefit.
Storm in a teacup?
All is not well though and a recent series of incidents
regarding tea breaks seems to illustrate another example of a
management which seems to distance itself from the workforce
and to act in a manner which many of the workers see as confrontational.
KHT in their wisdom have chosen to pick on KHT workers who want to take a
tea-break in the official canteen. The readers of Kirkby Times will have
been in that situation in work where a welcome cuppa refreshes you and
allows you to be more productive. A cup of tea, the average worker would
agree, is pretty much a right. Management, who seem to object to the
workers cup of tea in the canteen, will no doubt have their cups of
tea or coffee bought to their office! What sort of equality is that
for the workforce?
A young apprentice has been given a written warning as he was sympathetic
to the man he worked with and would not leave a canteen when
ordered by management. The article below has been taken off
the Kirkby Huyton Prescott Trade Unions Website and slightly
amended in parts so as to not include any names.
The Question of Tea-breaks
The Question of Tea-breaks has once again come to the fore at Kirkby Depot.
On Tuesday 04/10/03 a handful of our members whilst in the Kirkby yard on
legitimate KHT business (not there for the specific reason of coming back
to the yard for a tea-break) popped into the Kirkby Canteen for a cup of
Tea/Coffee, whilst waiting for their stores, plant etc.
They were asked to leave the canteen by the Assistant Depot Manager,
but because the men had just bought their drinks from the machine
they were reluctant to do so. This being the case, 3 of the men were
put on an 'investigatory' to take place, the following day. It is
'custom and practice' for our members to have a tea break of a
morning, (as it is in all workplaces across the Country, including
the management of KHT, but no one would dream of telling them not
to have breaks). But many of our members would have their breaks
in the Houses, rather than go back to the Depot, but of course some
will be in the Depot already getting materials etc, and as such,
there SHOULD be no problem. However.......
How much for a Cup of Tea?
The investigatory hearings were held on the 3 men, who were in the
Canteen having their cup of tea. It took seven hours for the investigations
to take place..... So that is 7 hours of lost production for the 3 men...
..& 2 Stewards, plus the wages of the 3 members of management who were
present at the investigatory....... The cost of this seems to be mounting up.
However, now that the investigatory is over, the management
have passed it over to West Street (head office) for a further hearing
and possible disciplinary action...... all this for having a cup of tea/coffee,
mid-morning. A matter which involves ALL KHT employees, in ALL Depots and
offices, as if it is deemed unacceptable by higher management that tea/coffee
breaks are not allowed, then it MUST be for ALL employees whether manual or
office based.
And that would affect us ALL..... As an attack on our workplace conditions.
The Storm in a Teacup heads to Typhoon status
At 10.00am on the 02/12/03, Official KHT Union representatives went up to
Kirkby Depot, to interview the lads who had been disciplined by the
management of the Depot for having a cup of tea in the canteen.......
oops sorry, my mistake...... for not taking their tea outside the canteen
when ordered by the Assistant Maintenance Manager to leave the canteen.
Standing room only!
Anyway...... when the Reps arrived, they were invited into the
canteen for a cuppa.... by the Kirkby lads, and found to there surprise,
most of the Kirkby lads in the canteen having their break...... in fact
it was standing room only! As seen below -
There was no disciplinary action taken by the management on this
occasion, perhaps the custom of morning tea should be made a
permanent thing...... It's SO civilised.
Below - we wonder why the management didn't tell all these naughty workers to stop drinking their tea?
They cannot sack them because any workers who took their place would be scabs.
That's why the
law has given us welfare facilities so we can have a clean
civilised tea supping place of rest from the daily grind, just like
management and supervision.
The management didn't go for all the men today because they like to go
for individuals and small groups. That's the nature of bullies.
Below are some comments from workers regarding the banning of the tea break.
Q - I heard one of the lads who was given a written warning was a young
apprentice, who just happened to be sitting with the man he goes out with.
Am I right or is it a rumour?
A - Sad to say it ...... but I'm afraid the rumour is true ....
It will look good on the young lads record wont it? -
a WRITTEN WARNING for showing loyalty to the man he goes out
with and has to work with, and for not taking his cup of tea
out of the canteen when ordered to do so by the member of management concerned.
I met the young man the other day and I can honestly
say he didn't come over as a rabble rouser or a hardened
union activist, to me....... so it beats me why they have
singled the young lad out, for this disciplinary action.
I thought it was bad over here in Prescott, but even you know
who wouldn't go out of his way to discipline an apprentice (we hope)
and the point is the disciplinary must have been heard by other members
of management as well.
So we have a situation where there is a blatant attack
on an apprentice the lads and even the office staff are sickened
by this. If KHT can openly discipline one of the apprentices because
he showed a bit of loyalty to the man he works with things must be BAD.
For all their talk of change, this is one of the worst things
I've ever heard them do.
The Directors & Boards should be ashamed of themselves for allowing
this latest outrage on the workforce.
http://www.khpt.co.uk/
Kirkby Times Comment
What is it with certain people wanting things banned in Kirkby?
They want to ban Kirkby Times; they want to ban KHT workers having a cup of tea.
Luckily, the Kirkby Times experience with suppression of
freedom of speech has paved the way for ANYONE in Kirkby or Huyton or
Prescott or anywhere to have there say without the fear of some lunatic
Council or management being able to silence you.
This KHT workers stand against the decision to ban tea-breaks
is in some ways similar to the Towerhill residents who stood up to
KHT management trying to force through changes without consultation.
A manager who tells workers they cannot drink tea is heading for
trouble if you ask me!
To the KHT workers - especially the younger lads and girls
who may see politics as something that's not worth getting involved
in - too late! - Sitting in a damn canteen is an act of political
protest in this sick fu**ed up Country! We've got no choice - as
working class people we either make a stand or see every right
fought for by successive generations taken away. This isn't just
about a cup of tea - its about working class people standing up
for our rights and the rights of our children who will one day
go out to work and hopefully be able to drink a cup of tea
without being jumped upon buy some bosses sidekick.
