About

In this first full episode, Onay Kasab from Unite Union speaks to Greg Shreeve about the ongoing dispute between Hackney council and employees who are driver and passenger escorts for children with special educational neeeds and disabilities (SEND). These staff, who are only paid for the time spent with children to and from school - are requesting compensation for having to work split shifts. Pay is so low that many staff cannot afford the public transport costs of leaving the bus depot between shifts. Staff have already undertaken two days of strike, and called off a further 2 days agreeing to negotiations with Hackney Council. However as Onay explains, talks soon broke down as the council were unwilling to consider any compensation. In this episode Onay puts forward a reasonable alternative to the austerity that is putting pressure on councils to employ public servants on low-wage insecure contracts and what can be done by Labour and momentum members to support this dispute.