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Workers across local government in Scotland have voted to take industrial action in pursuit of their annual pay claim. Members of three trades unions, Unison, GMB and Unite representing over 100,000 staff have voted by approximately 3 to 1 to begin a programme of industrial action that will effectively close down local government. The claim, lodged by the three unions is for an increase in pay of 5% or £1000 (whichever is greater) and an increase in public holidays. But has been met by the employer’s representatives with an offer of 2.5% (in effect a pay cut) for each of the next three years. Unlike the recent health settlement there is not even a ‘trigger clause’ that enables the unions to renegotiate the deal if inflation reaches an agreed level.
The employers’ offer has been met with anger across the membership which increases with every announcement of further increases in the cost of fuel, food and power. In the past months workplace discussions have turned to debate topics such as MP’s salaries, the true rate of inflation and the scandal of ‘profiteering’ of the big oil and gas companies. Workers are not fooled by the inflation figures produced by the government and are of the view, correctly, that the true rate of inflation affecting many crucial commodities far exceeds the government’s publicised figures.
The proposed action will see an all-out one day strike followed by selective action from key groups of workers across the three unions who organise across a broad cross section of public sector staff comprising Social Workers, library workers, cleansing and environmental protection staff, early years workers, cooks and cleaners.
In Glasgow, which has seen a number of disputes over the past two years, the demand of the membership was for two or more days of action to begin the campaign that should involve all members, provide no ‘life and limb’ cover for essential services and should seek to co-ordinate action already being taken by local government staff across England and Wales in pursuit of their own pay claim. This demand partly reflected Glasgow members’ success in defending the pay levels of colleagues by threatening to strike for three days in December 2006. Solidarity members in Unison have explained that, although the proposed action is not ideal, it is, for the first time, united action that can be built on.
At the time of writing the first date for action has not been named officially but according to media reports is likely to be Wednesday 20th August.
Ian Leech Glasgow Unison Steward
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