Support the UNISON school strikes

Jim McFarlane, Dundee City UNISON branch secretary (personal capacity)

Strike action by UNISON members in schools and co-located nurseries will start on 1st November in Glasgow, East Renfrewshire, Renfrewshire and Inverclyde.

This rolling action across 24 council areas in November follows on from the widely supported 3 days of strike action in September. Legal notices have now been served on 8 councils so far with more to follow soon.

The 3-day strike in September, along with demonstrations, protests and picket lines at schools the length and breadth of Scotland, was a mass show of anger at year on year real terms pay cuts.

It also illustrated of the pent up anger of a section of the council workforce over the effects of the chronic underfunding of council services that has resulted in staff shortages, lack of resources as well as low pay.

The lead taken by UNISON members gives a glimpse of what can be achieved when workers take determined strike action. Thousands of people have joined a trade union. Just as importantly, hundreds are stepping up to become workplace representatives. This was also the first taste of strike action for many of those schools and nursery workers, including many young workers.

Their determination, imagination and enthusiasm on the picket lines and protests should be a warning to the employers and governments that they have had enough of being taken for granted and just expected to put up further cuts in the living standards.

It should also be taken as a clear signal to trade union leaders and negotiators they will not just accept any pay deal just for the sake of ending the dispute. These workers are up for the fight, that means they need to be supported by all trade unionists.

The widely circulated media stories emanating from CoSLA, that they are seriously considering imposing this pay deal without agreement has to be met with escalating the planned strike action.

Taking more than one day a week in different areas should be organised as soon as possible. Those other areas which didn’t quite meet the Tory set ballot turnout threshold should be re-balloted for action immediately. All sections of the council workforce should be preparing to join the strike action if needed.

Imposing this pay deal just before Christmas would be a cynical ploy by the employers straight out of an anti-trade union playbook. Councils and the Scottish Government like to proclaim they are signed up to the Fair Work Agenda, empty words that would be meaningless if that is the path that they take.

UNISON members in local government are tired of the argument that there is no more money for a de- cent pay rise. We all know that governments and employers can find money and resources when there is the political will to do so.

budget cuts

Local councils of every political persuasion have meekly administered budget cuts passed down to them from both the Scottish and UK governments.

The SNP-led Scottish Government has treated local government with disdain for years. Further evidenced by announcing a freeze in council tax next year without even consulting with CoSLA. Tens of thousands of jobs have been lost in local councils, services have not just been cut to the bone, but in many areas vital council services no longer exist. Millions have been cut from council budgets on an annual basis.

Council workers along with the wider working class need a political party that is on their side and fighting to defend jobs and services. Time and time again, SNP, Labour and Green councillors and MSPs have failed to deliver for trade unionists.

The working class learns lessons very quickly when taking action. More will draw the conclusion that none of these existing political parties deserve their support at the ballot box.

Debates within the trade union movement on the need for a new party for socialists and trade unionists is needed. More than that, the trade unions must take the necessary steps to build one.

With Keir Starmer dragging Labour to the right and the SNP exposed as a pro-big business party we need to build an alternative. And the trade unions are best placed to help build that alternative.