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    Bert questions Fred on why he crossed the UNISON picket line during the recent strike over pay. Fred denies crossing at first but then admits he was worried the council would privatize their jobs. Bert argues that crossing the line undermines the union and makes privatization more likely. They discuss how their union rep Bob resigned after members crossed the line. With Future Shape consultations starting, Fred and Bert agree they need to attend UNISON meetings to understand the council's plans and ensure their jobs are protected.

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    Ragged Trousered Council worker

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    Bert questions Fred on why he crossed the UNISON picket line during the recent strike over pay. Fred denies crossing at first but then admits he was worried the council would privatize their jobs. Bert argues that crossing the line undermines the union and makes privatization more likely. They discuss how their union rep Bob resigned after members crossed the line. With Future Shape consultations starting, Fred and Bert agree they need to attend UNISON meetings to understand the council's plans and ensure their jobs are protected.

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    16 views2 pages

    Ragged Trousered Council Worker

    Uploaded by

    barnetunison
    Bert questions Fred on why he crossed the UNISON picket line during the recent strike over pay. Fred denies crossing at first but then admits he was worried the council would privatize their jobs. Bert argues that crossing the line undermines the union and makes privatization more likely. They discuss how their union rep Bob resigned after members crossed the line. With Future Shape consultations starting, Fred and Bert agree they need to attend UNISON meetings to understand the council's plans and ensure their jobs are protected.

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    of 2

    Barnet UNISON PRODUCTIONS

    The ‘Ragged Trousered ’Council Worker!


    This short story is inspired by the English classic novel
    ‘The Ragged Trousered Philanthropist’ written by
    Robert Tressell, first published in 1914. It is set in a time when every-
    one knew their place. Whilst much has changed since it was written the
    book still has a message particularly in these times of economic insta-
    bility, increase in poverty and greater job insecurity.
    It is a book worth reading.

    Scene
    Two Council workers meeting the day after the UNISON national strike over pay.
    It is set in a Council depot up north somewhere…………………..…..? It is written in
    Barlick dialect.

    Act One
    Bert: Ow it’er?

    Fred: ‘Am alreet!

    Bert: Why didn’t yer strike

    Fred: What yer mean?

    Bert: Well you olus complaining about yer pay an’t cost of living…last week yer said yer wud go on
    strike!

    Fred: Who sed I didn’t?

    Bert: I saw yer!...I wer on’t picket line!

    Fred: So wat if I wer…..none of yer business…..any roads the manager said if we went on strike
    they’d privatise us……….

    Bert : I can’t believe yer believe that claptrap!……..thev bin ‘olding that threat t’ over us fer last
    10 years!......if they gonna do it, they will……crossing picket line int gonna stop that ‘appening….in
    fact it’s more likely to ‘appen…

    Fred: Why yer seh that?

    Bert : Well…yer let the Union down ‘aven’t yer……

    Fred: Eh?

    Bert : What’s point being in Union if you don’t support them when they’re trying to get a better
    deal for yer?

    Fred: I hadn’t thot abaht it that way……..

    Bert : That’s thee problem lad…you don’t think abaht it and that’s why they keep tekkin’ p*** owt
    o’ us!
    Fred: But I haven’t loss mi pay like you……..

    Bert : You lost more than 2 days pay………

    Fred: Wot….

    Bert : Well, bi going in ter work , yer supporting bosses…yer tekking sides against yer union.
    Wot yer gonna do if yer need help from Union?

    Fred: Eh?

    Bert : Well…..yer boss has been ‘aving a go at yer for months now…..wot yer gonna do to mek him
    stop?

    Fred: I’ll go ter union………

    Bert : A think yer may find thee’ll be awhile before they get bak to yer!

    Fred: Wot yer mean?

    Bert : Bob….ower rep….has resigned…..he said he had enough after seein’ members crossing the
    picket line….after all the times he’d represented ‘em!.. Can’t say a blame ‘im……he was olus ther
    fer members ‘ower Bob.

    Fred: E wer ….am shocked…..wot we gonna do?

    Bert : I dunno……e wer a good ‘un Bob…..not sure if he’d come back after all this business.

    Fred: Wot abaht you doin’ it?

    Bert : No chance……. yer olus complainin’ …and ah don’t need the headache…….

    Fred: But wot we gonna do…….I just heard Council is thinking abaht sellin’ us all off!

    Bert : Yer mean this Future Shape stuff?

    Fred: Yer that’s right……dunno wot it means…….thez a UNISON meeting cumin’ up

    Bert : Well we better mek sure wer get usells down to it and see wot ther plannin’………...

    To be continued…….

    FUTURE SHAPE CONSULTATION HAS STARTED!


    Make sure you follow Fred and Bert and get down to the
    Barnet UNISON Future Shape meetings.
    For details of meetings in
    NLBP,
    Barnet House and
    Mill Hill depot
    contact the UNISON office on
    0208 359 2088 or
    email contactus@barnetunison.org.uk

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