Council workers strike over pay

Aug 21 2008 by Lesley Brown, Hamilton Advertiser

Council workers strike over pay

THOUSANDS of South Lanarkshire Council workers yesterday (Wednesday) went on strike over an on-going pay dispute.

UNISON, Unite and GMB trade unions had voted overwhelmingly for industrial action after being offered a 2.5 per cent pay deal over three years.

Staff picketed the council’s Almada Street headquarters and various other sites across the area, leaving many council services suspended for the duration.

Among the services affected were refuse collections, leisure facilities and libraries.

In addition, all council nurseries, about 100 primary schools and nine secondary schools were closed yesterday.

Stephen Smellie, South Lanarkshire branch secretary for UNISON said: “We don’t take striking lightly, but our members are angry that the employers want to lock them into 2.5 per cent increases for the next three years while inflation is still rising and set to continue.

“Pay in the private sector is rising by 4 per cent.”

He added: “We have delivered solid, effective strike action. We don’t want to have to strike again, but the response today shows that we are willing and able to do so.”

Jane Aitchison, a South Lanarkshire branch communications officer for UNISON said: “Our members simply deserve better.”

Bobby Watson, GMB convener said: “We are looking for fair pay for low-paid workers, because in many cases they are not getting a wage they can live on.

“This one-day strike is a show of strength. Today shows that our members have the stomach for industrial action.

“We don’t want to hurt the public, but we have to get a fair deal.”

Outside the council headquarters yesterday, a community resources worker said: “If you take into account that goods like food and fuel are going up in price by the day, a 2.5 per cent increase is just not enough.

“Hopefully after today our employers will realise there is a depth of feeling on this issue.”

A corporate resources worker added: “We just want the chance to negotiate a fair deal.”

And a transport department member of staff said workers were being treated like “second-class citizens.”

He added: “Under-paid, over-worked and under-valued - we just don’t feel appreciated, and the pay offer reflects this.

“We are disappointed that it has come to this, but we have to get our message across.”

In response to the strike, a South Lanarkshire Council spokesman said: “In any industrial action affecting the council, the council’s principal concern is to ensure that essential ‘life and limb’ services to the most vulnerable, such as residential and home care and meals-on-wheels are not affected, and we have reached agreement with the unions to ensure that is the case.”