Women set to ‘make history’
Thousands of workers demand ‘justice’ from council bosses
THOUSANDS of Glasgow women will make history today as they walk out in one of Scotland’s largest strikes.
Around 8000 low paid will picket around the city to tell council bosses “We want justice”.
School staff, nursery workers, care workers, caterers and cleaners are carrying out two days of industrial action over an equal pay claim that has dragged on for 12 years.
As workers prepared themselves for action, Glasgow City Council was accused of underhand tactics by union bosses.
Cleansing staff at nine depots across the city were told they would face disciplinary action if they did not cross the picket line. Cleaners at each depot will walk out and their colleagues were planning to give them support.
But letters to staff threatened sanctions that would have been enforced using Tory anti-trade union laws.
However, following outrage from the unions, it emerged the letter had been withdrawn.
A council spokesman said: “The letter was sent out in error and has subsequently been withdrawn.”
A GMB Scotland spokesman said: “Using Tory antitrade union laws to undermine this democratic strike is not in the council’s interests.
“After a weekend of reckless and inaccurate comment stemming from the City Chambers, we are pleased to see that some common sense has prevailed and the threats to the livelihoods of our members have been withdrawn. The assurance from the council that no member of staff will face disciplinary action if they refuse to cross a picket line is only right and proper.”
The strike will affect schools, nurseries, home care, cleaning and catering across the city
Mandy McDowall, UNISON’s regional organiser, said: “It is a modern-day scandal that 40 years on from the equal pay act being introduced we find ourselves standing alongside thousands of women who are being discriminated against by one of the UK’s largest councils.
“Glasgow City Council has to get back around the negotiating table and finally put an end to this long-standing injustice.”
UNISON Glasgow chairwoman Mary Dawson added: “We have given the council 10 months to make progress on addressing the historical discrimination suffered by these workers. However, the council has agreed nothing, offered nothing and all we have had are meetings about meetings and talks about talks. It’s time for some action.”
Unions are calling on council chief executive Annemarie O’Donnell to meet them at the negotiating table to devise a way forward.
GMB Scotland Organiser Rhea Wolfson said: “The
‘‘ We have given the council 10 months to make progress
voice of Glasgow’s working women will be heard around the world.
“After decades of rampant sex discrimination they will tell their employer, ‘Stop the delays. We want justice.’”
A Glasgow City Council spokesman called the strike “unnecessary and dangerous”.
He added: “[It is] unecessary because the council is absolutely committed to delivering equal pay and reaching a negotiated settlement – and dangerous because its impact will be felt most keenly by the most vulnerable people in the city.
“We understand why many of our workforce are angry about equal pay, but there is nothing this strike can achieve that we are not already doing.”
A spokeswoman for Glasgow Life said: “Due to planned industrial action, some services are liable to disruption. This will include catering facilities including on-site cafes, as well as some cleaning operations.
“All Glasgow Life venues are expected to remain open as normal.”