Council employees ballot for strike action

School cleaning and catering staff are among council employees being balloted for strike action in a row overpay.

Unison is calling for Lanarkshire local government employees to receive the“fair and proper pay rise they deserve”.

The union has said they are seeking to take targeted strike action, which will see select groups of Lanarkshire workers balloted.

This will include members working in school cleaning, catering, and janitorial roles, as well as those employed in waste and recycling services.

Unison General Secretary Christina McAnea said:“Council workers have gone above and beyond to keep services and schools running throughout the pandemic. They went to work so others could stay at home.

“These workers, mostly women, are among the lowest paid in the country and have seen their pay drop substantially in recent years.

“We’ve always known the value and importance of these workers, but it’s taken a pandemic for politicians to realise council staff is the backbone of our communities.

“Now the warm words must be backed with action to ensure the local government employees receive the fair and proper pay rise they deserve.”

Unison has said that Cosla, the body that represents council employers, previously offered staff earning less than £25,00 a flat rate rise of £800.

However, Cosla came back last month and offered a revised £850 rise.

The union has said that the offer doesn’t do enough to address low pay and does not recognise workers’“extraordinary efforts”during the pandemic.

Johanna Baxter, Unison Scotland’s head of local government, said:“We’ve all relied on council staff to keep our communities clean and safe, protect the most vulnerable, and to work in our schools throughout successive lockdowns to allow others to work.

“The current offer from Cosla is simply not good enough – our council staff are worth more.”