Unite issues call to arms to nation of gardeners to defend
RHS jobs
4 August 2009
Britain's army of amateur gardeners is today (Tuesday) being
asked to rally behind a hundred staff at the Royal Horticultural
Society (RHS) threatened with the sack.
Their union Unite says that large numbers of professional
gardeners are in fear of losing their jobs, tied houses and pension
entitlements under RHS restructuring plans and management is flatly
refusing to talk to their unions.
Unite has been pressing the RHS managers to halt the plans,
which are being forced through at a hurried pace, and instead begin
meaningful dialogue with the union over the changes.
However, the charity has flatly rejected appeals to the union
about its proposed Change Programme, which is seeking to cut posts
and change pensions and housing entitlements even though the RHS
returned a £3 million surplus last year.
Now, frustrated at the charity's refusal to discuss the impact
of the cuts on its workforce, Unite has launched an online campaign
to get the RHA to think again.
"We are calling on Britain's gardeners to raise their spades in
defence of the RHS gardeners," says Unite national secretary Chris
Kaufman.
"Workers are terrified that they could lose their jobs and the
cuts axe is poised to fall most heavily on dedicated, low paid
gardening staff. Why is it that gardeners on around £16,000 face
job cuts and the loss of their pensions and possibly their homes
yet the charity expands its very highly paid management team? This
is surely not in keeping with the public image of an organisation
of the stature of the RHS."
Unite is warning that the RHS is gambling with the UK's
international reputation as a garden-loving nation, calling upon it
to enter dialogue with the union. Chris Kaufman continued: "A
steep decline in this sector's skilled workforce can only mean a
decline in gardening standards. These centres of excellence set the
trends that play out subsequently in millions of back gardens and
public spaces across the country so we must do all we can to
preserve these skills.
"If the RHS will not end this sham consultation process, then
Unite will be asking Vice-Presidents like Alan Titchmarsh whether
they approve of what is being done in their names.
"The RHS is a well-respected institution but if it can be so
savage in how it treats the loyal workers who maintain its place in
the nation's heart, then it will not retain this affection much
longer. We appeal to it once more - cut the grass, not your
workers."
Unite represents the gardeners at the RHS, most of whom earn
£16,000 - £17,000 per year. Unite estimates that there are
around 12 senior managers at the RHS who are paid between £60,000
and £120,000 salary each year. This includes three managers
on between £100,000 and £120,000, which is three times as many as
were employed by the RHA in the previous year.
To persuade the RHS to think again on the cuts it is aiming to
push through at the conclusion of the 90-day "consultation period"
in September, Unite has launched an online petition has been set up
at www.unitetheunion.org/RHScutgrassnotworkers.
ENDS
For further information, contact Chris Kaufman on 07976 842 307
or Pauline Doyle on 07976 832 861
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