Council workers to strike during local elections

Upcoming local elections could be affected as 200 employees at renfrewshire Council are set to strike in a row over pay.

The staff voted unanimously to walk out starting at 8am on Tuesday, May 3, until Friday, May 6, at 1pm. An overtime ban will also be in place during this time.

The tradespeople and apprentices work within building services at the council and are responsible for setting up and dismantling the polling stations. They were also due to deliver the ballot boxes to the count at the polls next week.

Unite the Union, who represent the workers, said that Renfrewshire Council has offered members a below inflation pay rise. The union also claimed the council threatened to remove workers when notice of the strike was served.

According to Unite, the move could be in breach of the Employment Relations Act (1999). The council may have to pay workers compensation if courts rule in favour of Unite.

Sharon Graham, general secretary of Unite, said: "Unite's craft workers are rightly angry not only at the below inflation pay offer at a time of punishing living costs, but at the potentially illegal and costly actions by Renfrewshire Council. The council has to make a more acceptable offer to our members.

"Our members have their union's full support in fighting for better jobs, terms and conditions."

A Renfrewshire Council spokesperson said: "We remain fully committed to continuing positive negotiations with Unite the Union. We have put in place our contingency arrangements to ensure [the election] continues to run as planned."