Two weeks to save ourselves

THE decision by rail workers in the RMT and refuse collectors, represented by the GMB, to take strike action on dates that coincide with COP26 in Glasgow, along with school staff from Cosla, create a real danger that the UN summit, which will garner the city international attention, will also bring it embarrassment on a global scale.

The primary focus of the event, which will bring around 100 heads of state and 30,000 other participants to the city, is of course to co-ordinate the efforts of governments, international agencies, businesses and other stakeholders to tackle climate and environmental issues – a task that almost everyone accepts is of crucial and urgent importance.

But, from the point of view of the UK and Scottish governments, such events also provide the chance to demonstrate leadership, forge alliances, and promote the qualities of the host city. Sometimes, as in the case of Glasgow’s year as European City of Culture in 1990, these can be transformative; or they can be unexpected triumphs, as with the London Olympics of 2012, which had a rocky road in its run-up.

The chaos that could be created by this action is only the latest headache for the city: road closures are already planned for essential arterial routes, the Kingston Bridge may be closed, there could be significant disruption on the M8 to and from Edinburgh, where many attendees will be staying, and major sites and venues have been shut.

All this is before the unknown – but almost certain – upheaval that will be caused by demonstrations. Even if those do not bring the violent disorder that attended some previous protests by Extinction Rebellion or the illegal blockades of Insulate Britain, they will be a logistical and policing nightmare.

It is difficult to attach all the blame to the unions for this latest threat. The very purpose of collective bargaining is to maximise the leverage of the members; effective strikes, or the threat of them, are almost by definition those that are directed at the times and areas that will be most disruptive.