MSP fears over strike action after franchise bid
Craftsforkids
There will be a host of free crafts activities on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays throughout this month at East Kilbride Shopping Centre.
From 10am to 3pm in the Plaza Square there will be a host of activities to keep youngsters entertained throughout the summer.
Activities include making dream catchers, kites, money boxes, gift mugs, jewellery making, princess wands, pirate ships and masks as well as face painting on selected dates.
They will have a different fun theme each week, as follows, with a superheroes theme arranged for next week and a monsters and fairies theme for the week beginning July 25.
On July 18 and 29 there will also be special characters visiting the workshops from 122pm. Face painting is planned for July 18 and 25. Ten children are permitted per session which normally lasts for around 15 minutes. Children may select two items to make during the session.
An East Kilbride MSP has called for calm at the towns main Post Office as staff prepare for a ballot on strike action.
Central Scotland MSP and East Kilbride West councillor Graham Simpson has urged staff to think carefully ahead of taking strike action after it was revealed last week that plans had been resurrected to franchise the Cornwall Street office.
The move comes 18 months after management reversed their decision to franchise the branch they are again on the hunt to find a private partner.
They previous attempt to franchise the office dragged on for over two years with huge public backing for the staff with Communication and Workers Union (CWU) members voting to take strike action during that time.
CWU national officer Andy Furey warned people in East Kilbride that the move to remove the Crown office could pose the risk of the service leaving the town centre altogether.
CWU told the News that they are still creating a ballot timetable ahead of any strike action.
However, Simpson urged staff and union members “not to be rash” after visiting the branch last week.
“We all want to see a main Post Office in the town centre and I was assured this is what the Post Office wants too,” said the Tory List MSP.
“Until we see the outcome of the call for interest in a franchise operation, it is difficult to comment on whether we will be losing out, or gaining from the process.
“I certainly think calls for strike action at this point are premature and I’d urge the union not to be rash.
“Obviously there is a potential concern for staff but the time for them and others to make a judgement is when we know what’s proposed.
“There are very few facts at the moment, other than that a franchisee is being sought.”