Hundreds of Glasgow residential care workers are due to start another 48-hour strike fron Sunday night, 26 January. Up to 200 of the overwhelmingly female workforce are facing cuts in wages of £1,500 a year. Social Work bosses are demanding workers go onto 12 hour shifts and have insisted on other changes to terms and conditions. This group of workers, who have not taken action before, were forced to sign the new contracts following threats from management. 

Brian Smith, Glasgow City Unison branch secretary, explained on Wednesday; “Senior SWS Management still refuse to move on any aspect of the dispute. They remain unwilling to address the cut in UNISON members living standards.

“At this morning’s meeting they showed little understanding, or indeed care, about what a £1500 cut in pay means to workers earning living on around or below average wages. UNISON members will therefore be on strike for two days on Monday 27 January and Tuesday 28 January (the action begins with the nightshift on Sunday evening and ends at the start of the nightshift on Tuesday evening). UNISON members never take strike action lightly, particularly in the job these members do.

We have received messages of support from UNISON branches across the country and the wider trade union movement.”

In a bizarre attack on the workers and Unison the head of Glasgow Social Work Services, David Williams, accused the pickets of intimidating behaviour and, crime of crimes, wearing balaclava’s on the picket lines. These and other attacks were contained in a letter sent to all Glasgow City councillors. Unison have formerly put in a complaint at this behaviour.

Brian Smith said: “Unison does not issue strike balaclavas. I myself stood in the pouring rain late at night with my hood up and a scarf around me. We are in the middle of winter just now.

“Our members are hurt by ­allegations of creeping around outside the windows of people they care for. Not only does it question their professionalism, it’s an incredible and contemptuous claim.”

Glasgow City Unison have been involved in an increasing number of strikes over attacks on wages, working conditions and workload over the last number of months.

The residential care strike action comes after a series of strikes last year by Pupil Support Assistants (PSAs) employed by the council at schools across the city. The PSAs walked out in a row about staff having to take on extra healthcare duties.

Unison members were also involved in wildcat action at homeless units last year. There are another two ballots for action involving groups of workers in the social work department against the increasing workload and tasks they are being expected to carry out as the cuts bite.

In an interesting development over cuts to opening hours of Glasgow libraries, the Herald newspaper carried a quote from a Labour party source who defended the cuts: “It’s better than actually closing libraries altogether but a few folk have raised concerns that it is yet another battle with Unison if they get upset by it.”

This comment indicates that the Labour council leadership are increasingly concerned about the opposition they face from Unison in Glasgow to their cuts agenda.

The growing confrontation between a Labour administration prepared to attack its own workforce and the services it provides for the people of Glasgow and a fighting trade union opposed to all cuts is likely to escalate in the coming months.

Residential workers protest

Tuesday 28 January at 1pm, Social Work Services HQ, 40 John Street

Send messages of support to enquiries@glasgowcityunison.co.uk