Workers suspend strike over pay but GMB action goes ahead in Glasgow

Council strikes across Scotland next week have been suspended by unions.

Members of the GMB, Unison and Unite unions who represent refuse workers as well as school cleaners, caterers and janitors across Scotland were due to take industrial action on November 8-12.

Unions have now put that on hold while they consult members about a £48 million offer currently on the table.

Council umbrella group COSLA proposed a rise in pay of 5.8 per cent for the lowest paid staff as part of a £1,062 increase for all staff earning below £25,000. Unison announced that £30m is coming from the Scottish Government while £18.5m is from local government.

Johanna Baxter, UNISON Scotland head of local government, said: ‘This improved pay offer rightly puts more money into the pockets of those on the lowest pay.

‘It is just disappointing UNISON members had to threaten to go on strike for their employer to recognise their worth.

‘We will now consult our members on this offer and UNISON will continue to lead the fight to improve the terms and conditions of these workers in the forthcoming negotiations for the 2022 pay review.’

Mark Ferguson, chairman of UNISON Scotland Local Government Committee, added: ‘It has taken 10 months and the threat of strike action for COSLA and the Scottish Government to recognise the vital role of local government workers.

‘Local government needs a new deal, we need to invest in local services and those who work in local government need their value properly recognised in the years to come.’

Councillor Gail Macgregor, COSLA’s resources spokesperson, said: ‘We are pleased our trade union colleagues have notified us that they will suspend strike action.’

However, on Sunday GMB Scotland confirmed a strike in Glasgow was back on. GMB Scotland said members in the city council’s cleansing department would be striking from midnight for the next week.

The union announced: ‘Glasgow City Council has acted in bad faith and failed to give our members proper time and space to discuss the 11th hour offer from COSLA.’

The strike started as world leaders arrived in Glasgow for the COP26 climate summit.