Scottish local government workers to strike over pay
Brian Smith, Glasgow City UNISON branch secretary (personal capacity) and Socialist Party Scotland
Tens of thousands of council workers across Scotland are heading to strike action in a pay dispute with CoSLA, the Scottish council employers.
The new offer of 3.5% is an insult to council workers after two years of a pandemic where they keep local services going, with inflation now over 10% and energy costs going through the roof.
UNISON, GMB and UNITE trade unions conducted over eighty “disaggregated” ballots in the thirty-two council areas, and also adopted a selective action approach by balloting workers in schools, nurseries and waste/recycling services.
These workers will take strike action on behalf of 200,000 council workers and be financially supported by the trade unions.
The trade unions met the Tories anti-union ballot thresholds in sixteen council areas in schools and nurseries, and twenty-five in waste services.
The action kicks-off on 18 August with waste workers in Edinburgh beginning a 12-day strike, followed by further waste strikes from 24 August across Scotland.
These strikes will range from eight days to four days depending on the council area and trade unions involved.
Strikes across Scotland in schools and nurseries, including in Glasgow where around 6,500 workers will be involved, are likely in early September.
There are positives in the above approach such as being able to focus campaign resources and the ability to financially support striking members to take longer periods of action.
On the downside, some members not balloted can feel less engaged in the dispute.
Local government in Scotland has been hammered for years with budget cuts, higher demand for services, new unfunded responsibilities from the Scottish Government and below inflation pay rises.
On top of all that the SNP / Green Government has recently announced a further huge real terms cut in council funding over the next four years.
Council trade unions need to dig-in and fight hard for an acceptable pay rise this year, and step-up their campaigning for more money for local government from the Scottish Government.
The key is building members confidence and showing action will be widely supported – the recent strikes by the RMT, CWU and other trade unions show beyond doubt that action can be built with strong union organisation and a combative leadership.
