Glasgow Unison education workers to strike on Thursday
On the 31st October 1000 Unison members in Glasgow City Council’s Schools are beginning a series of industrial action days in response to the City Council imposing changes to their job remit. Unison members across the council are involved in a number of conflicts with the Labour authority and this action on Thursday comes a few weeks after the walkout by social work staff in the council’s homelessness service (see picture). We spoke to Brian Smith, branch secretary of Glasgow City Unison about the backdrop to the dispute.
“Under the council’s proposals, our members will be expected to undertake Specialist Health Care tasks and Administration of Medicines in addition to their core duties of supporting the delivery of Education.
The Council refer to Asthma, Diabetes, Epilepsy and Anaphylactic Shock as ‘low level’ tasks and expect the lowest graded workers to undertake them. We totally reject that the lowest grade of worker should be involved in the very responsible task of administering medicines. The annual salary of PSA’s is £11,800. There has been no offer of increased pay for all PSA’s, Instructors or Care Staff for the administration of medicines.
The Council also expect some members to deliver ‘higher level tasks’ UNISON members believe these tasks should be undertaken by Healthcare Professionals these include Blood Glucose monitoring, Injections, Gastronomy tube/peg feeding, Tracheostomy care including suction, Catheterisation and catheter care. Our members are not professional healthcare workers!
Despite months of discussions on this issue where we have offered so many solutions, we have now been forced to take industrial action in order to make our voices heard and in response to the Council imposing the changes without our agreement. Despite this Unison remain available to negotiate an agreed solution.
Unison members do not take industrial action lightly and we do so reluctantly. This is because we believe Glasgow’s children deserve a skilled workforce appropriately graded to deliver quality support for all who need it. We ask for your support in our dispute which is also in the best interests of Glasgow’s children.”
