Reveal why they are joining landmark strike for fair wages

Gillian Docherty, 39 Former catering worker Cheryl Mcgurk, 48 Home carer Anne Melly, 54 Breakfast club and catering assistant

I was a catering team leader until I took redundancy this year, but am still a claimant.

We thought we had got somewhere, but this is a year on. After numerous meetings there is still nothing – and they say they will only give us what they can

afford as it I think we are undervalued. I am not angry, but I think it is unfair and you should be given what you are due. I have worked for the council since 2000 and the job has become busier – it is still do-able but it is busier.

Iwill have an impact on Glasgow. But why should we be penalised because they didn’t do their jobs? People should not be having to go through this.

This is about solidarity and sticking together – if we stick together, it shows what can be achieved.

We should all be paid I have been doing this job for 18 years in this city. We are wanting equality, but we are not getting equality from the council.

They don’t really recognise our jobs because they have not walked in our shoes. They don’t realise what we are facing daily.

Once we take our work away, they might recognise what input we make to keep this city going.

Sometimes you can be in quite dangerous situations, you are out in the streets in all weathers. You are on your own – it is a very lonely job.

I get quite emotional about it all as a strike is very hard for us.

The women are ready to stand up and be counted and fight – we just want to be paid our worth.

This will go back 12 years for the payment. We are speaking about a lot of money – some say the figures we are speaking about a lot of us could retire on. We have been getting paid less than men, we have not been getting paid what we have been entitled to.

“Sometimes we are the only person a service user will see in a day – we go in in the morning, get them up, out of bed, then we get them showered, washed, dressed, give them their medication, breakfast.

You are doing a lot of jobs. You are doing what the district nurses used to do and it is nonstop. I would have 20-24 calls over a 10-hour shift.

There has been a decade of delay over equal pay and that is because of the councillors. I think it has made morale within home care rock bottom.

The money would make a difference to my life. It would provide a cushion and give a bit of leeway.

I have been coming to the demonstrations over the last few months, from last summer I have fairly – that is all we want. We don’t want to do this but we don’t have any option now.

I got a work injury four years ago and suffer from chronic pain. I have a disability now so the money would do so much for me.

I can’t go on the picket, but I am going to drop stuff at schools for the pickets.

Shona Thomson, 58 Home carer

They keep going on about how important our service is to the people of Glasgow – so in that case pay us what we are due and our worth.

It really angers me, as they don’t understand the work we actually do. People think you just go in there and make a wee cup of tea. But you’re in there and right in amongst it. You never know what you are walking into.

They say they are going to give us an offer in December – but the offer will probably be a pittance compared to what we are entitled to.

People are saying they are dangling a carrot just before Christmas, as those who need the money will take it. been coming to meetings. I will be going out on strike next week. My message to the council would be – we are overworked and underpaid.

We are ready to fight, just give us what we are due.