| | Workers in the business
services sector are
prepared to be flexible
if it will stop their
colleagues losing their
jobs, according to a
survey of over 2,500
people by the
independent campaign
Keep Britain Working.
Of the workers
canvassed, 96% would
accept changes in their
working conditions to
help colleagues keep
their jobs; 38% would
accept a cut in pay and
over half - 53% - would
accept a reduction in
hours. However, as in
the rest of the UK, if
bosses asked for | |
|
| | sacrifices without
making any themselves 3%
of business services
workers would be
prepared to strike.
The poll, which was
published in advance of
the Budget statement,
also showed that 29%
would accept a pay cut
without reducing hours,
31% would lose benefits,
6% would accept a
three-month unpaid
sabbatical, and 19%
accept a sabbatical on
30% pay. Three out of
five workers would take
on extra
responsibilities, while
48% would change their
role entirely if it kept | |
|
| | their colleagues in
work.
However measures need
to feel fair to retain
support. If bosses asked
for sacrifices without
making any themselves,
49% would challenge
their manager, while
more than one in 10
would take more direct
action: 3% would go slow
at work, 4% would walk
off the job or seek
redundancy, and a
further 3% would
consider strike action.
Moreover, in a
separate poll on the
campaign’s website more
than two in five - 46% - | |
|
| | said they would consider
following the recent
Belfast example and
occupy a factory rather
than accept wholesale
redundancies.
James Reed, founder
of Keep Britain Working,
which has been endorsed
by businesses, public
sector organisations,
unions and politicians
across the spectrum,
said: “There seems to be
a new altruism at work.
If people believe that
being flexible about
their own employment
conditions will help
stem job losses they
will take on change and
make personal sacrifices | |
|
| | – especially if bosses
do their bit.
“Indeed people are
full of innovative and
effective ways to help
employers cope with the
downturn other than by
simply cutting jobs.
Over 400 ideas,
practical examples and
advice have already been
submitted to the Keep
Britain Working website
since it was set up only
last month, with more
supporters joining all
the time." | |
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