Glasgow care workers escalate action

The Glasgow care workers strike action is growing stronger and more solid. After taking two 48-hour strikes in January the around 400 Unison members involved have now just completed a 72-hour strike over the Valentine’s weekend. If Social Work bosses and the Labour administration thought the resolve of the workers could be broken, they couldn’t have been more wrong. In fact the mood has hardened even further. At a mass meeting on Sunday 16th February workers unanimously voted to escalate their action and intend to take a further three 72-hour strikes starting in March.

The mood of the meeting was one of anger and determination. Strikers have been encouraged by the many letters of support they have received from the families of residents along with the wider Trade Union movement. They feel that by clearly stating their intention to strike for a further three weekends they will send a message to management that they intend to fight this battle to a finish.

In addition, the members reported on the widespread poor practice that management have utilised in order to cover the strike days. Senior management from the wider residential sector have been drafted in to cover 12 hour shifts along with an army of agency staff from out with the council.

The members also expressed deep concern that on non-strike days, shifts, particularly night shifts, were running with too few staff for care and safety standards. This impacts on care but also on staff’s ability to take unpaid breaks away from the job during 12 hour shifts due to staffing/resident ratio’s falling below the required minimum. There is the concern that this will affect the quality of care provided as fatigue sets in later in the shift.

The Director of Social Work had attempted to by-pass the union by writing to all staff and threatening to put all workers who did not sign-up to attacks on terms and conditions on 45-day notice of termination of their contracts. These attacks include pay cuts for more than 300 of the just over 500 staff. Workers have been moved onto 12-hour shifts from 8 hours previously. The impact of the shift changes has strengthened the resolve of staff to fight these attacks.

Pressure is growing by the day on the Labour leadership of Glasgow City Council. The Glasgow Trades Council has written to all councillors accusing the council of anti-trade union tactics. They have called for negotiations with Unison to ensure there are no cuts to the living standards of the workers.

Glasgow Unison branch secretary Brian Smith “The council has tried to bully workers into agreeing wage cuts and changes. The strike action is being taken to force the council to reach a just settlement with our members.“

Messages of support should be sent to enquiries@glasgowcityunison.co.uk .

Donations to the strike fund should be made out to Unison, Glasgow City Branch, 84 Bell Street, Glasgow G1 1LQ