Strikes could bite if pay row rumbles on Schools would close and waste would pile up
A trade union has warned that strikes will see school closures and waste piling up on the streets of North Lanarkshire.
UNISON, Scotland’s largest trade union, has demanded a meeting with, and immediate action from, the First Minister Nicola Sturgeon and the Finance Secretary Kate Forbes over the local government pay dispute.
Last week the union served notice to 31 Scottish local authorities and Tayside Contracts.
It is taking targeted strike action, which means select groups of workers will be balloted.
These groups include those working in schools and nurseries as well as waste and recycling services.
The ballot opened on June 10 and will close on July 26.
If the ballots for industrial action are successful, strike action could begin in August, disrupting the beginning of the new school term.
In a letter to both Scottish Government ministers, UNISON – along with the joint trade unions – is warning that if the pay dispute is not swiftly resolved then strike action will “close schools across the country and see waste piling up on the streets.”
COSLA, the umbrella body representing council employers, has offered staff a two per cent increase.
But the union points out that with inflation at a 40-year high and topping 11 per cent, this represents a real-terms pay cut.
UNISON’s consultative ballot in April revealed that almost nine in 10 workers are in favour of taking action, with 89.8 per cent voting in favour of taking industrial action up to and including strike action.
Councils can avoid months of disruption to schools, and waste and recycling services, by improving the offer and giving workers the proper pay rise they deserve, UNISON says.
UNISON head of local government Johanna Baxter said: “People seem to have forgotten who kept our country going during the past few years – these workers are the ones who kept childcare hubs open so other key workers could get to work, they cared for our most vulnerable and buried our dead.
“They went above and beyond in service to our communities and deserve to be paid fairly.
“With over half of l ocal government workers earning below £25k each year, low pay remains a significant issue that is seeing councils struggling to recruit into key service areas.
“As everyday living costs continue to rise, these workers are struggling financially to make ends meet.
“Not only do these dedicated local government workers deserve way better than a below-inflation pay offer, there’s a service requirement to provide one if councils are to recruit and retain staff in key service areas.”