Unions in Lanarkshire prepare to continue fight against public sector pension reform

Dec 8 2011 Hamilton Advertiser

MORE public sector strikes are imminent unless the Government agree to “proper” negotiations and “get serious” about pensions reform.

That’s the view of two union leaders from South Lanarkshire where thousands of public employees joined last week’s one-day strike.

South Lanarkshire Council reported that from a total workforce of 14,520, only 2270 (16 per cent) reported for work.

Staff at the University of the West of Scotland, jobcentres and other public buildings joined Wednesday’s stoppage.

Unison say 5000 of their members in South Lanarkshire took part in the dispute. Many also joined the protest march in Glasgow.

Between 1500 and 2000 NHS Lanarkshire staff also took part in the dispute. About 1200 out-patient appointments and 85 planned procedures had to be postponed.

All South Lanarkshire’s 17 secondary schools and 124 primary schools were closed to pupils, leaving many parents with the task of finding alternative childcare arrangements.

There are 3120 teachers in schools, nurseries and other educational establishments in South Lanarkshire and the biggest union in the area is the Educational Institute of Scotland.

Bill Ramsay, secretary of the South Lanarkshire branch of EIS, said the “vast majority” of their South Lanarkshire membership of about 3000 supported the strike.

Apart from Lanark Grammar, the EIS had pickets at all 17 South Lanarkshire secondaries and only “handfuls” of people defied the strike call.

Stephen Smellie, secretary of Unison’s South Lanarkshire branch, regretted the disruption but placed the blame on the Con-Dem Government for leaving them with “no option” but to strike over pensions.

Unison say the Government’s proposals will leave staff working longer and paying more for their pension.

“The strike went very well in terms of our members within the council and those in other areas of the public sector,” he said.

“The Government proposals currently on the table are just unacceptable.

“We are prepared to negotiate but the Government need to be serious about what they are proposing.

“At the moment the Government plan amounts to a cash grab from the public sector workers to pay for the deficit.”

He believes that without a change in the Government stance on public sector pension reform, fresh action was inevitable.

Mr Smellie said that at a Unison conference held in Scotland last weekend, members were of the view that they had to be ready to take part in further action.

Senior Unison delegates were due to meet in London yesterday (Wednesday) to discuss possible further action. They will discuss the outcome of that meeting with other unions supporting the dispute.

Mr Ramsay added: “The response of South Lanarkshire EIS members to the strike call was overwhelming. The very real anger over the Coalition Government’s pensions grab converted last Wednesday into very real and very widespread action.

“This is the first time for around 26 years, indeed the first time for most teachers, that they have been on strike. The solid response should make the Government aware that teachers are prepared to repeat the process, unless the Government gets into serious negotiations instead of imposing, what is no more than an additional austerity tax on teachers and other public sector workers.

“Public sector pensions are affordable and the Government’s own figures show that they will become even more affordable in future years.”