Published: Wednesday, 13th August, 2008 12:30
Chaos looms as council staff strike
By Hamish Hutchinson
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Strike action by council workers is expected to hit a range of services.
Pic by: David Robertson
STRIKE action planned for next Wednesday could cause chaos for parents as schools and nurseries across Clackmannanshire are forced to close.
The national 24-hour walkout by council workers will come two days after pupils return to their classes on Monday for the autumn term.
It is not known which, if any, schools will be affected and parents may not be informed of closures until just a few days before the industrial action on 20 August.
Other council services such as waste collection, libraries and leisure are also expected to be disrupted.
It follows a ‘yes’ vote by members of the Unison, Unite and GMB unions to strike over a three-year below inflation pay increase proposed by all Scottish local authorities.
Dave Jones, chief executive of Clackmannanshire Council, said, “It is disappointing that unions feel they have to take this action, as this is the best offer councils can afford in the current financial climate – it is also in line with the settlement negotiated on behalf of all councils with the Scottish Government for the next three years.
“Any additional increase in wages – a major cost for councils – will directly affect the services we provide to our communities.”
Unions asked for a settlement which would bring the lowest paid workers’ salaries closer to £6.75 per hour – a figure they claim poverty experts say is the minimum living wage.
Scotland’s local council employers, however, have offered just 2.5 per cent rise each year for the years 2008/09, 2009/10 and 2010/11. The offer is far below the UK’s rate of inflation which rose to 4.4 per cent in July, its highest level since 1997.
A ballot of 100,000 local government workers across Scotland earlier this month delivered a 70 per cent majority for strike action.
Discussions are taking place with local trade unions to maintain essential services in Clackmannanshire during the strike.
Updates of those services affected will be displayed on the Clackmannanshire Council website, www.clacksweb.org.uk, and broadcast on local radio.
Council leader Janet Cadenhead told the Advertiser she would not cross a picket line but was reluctant to give her full support to the striking workers as the council was already in a financial stranglehold over pay.
The council is currently in negotiations with unions over single status and equal pay – a reorganisation of salary scales to prevent inequalities.
A total of £2 million has been budgeted to cope with historic equal pay and put the new pay scheme in place, on top of national pay increases.
Mrs Cadenhead said, “I am very aware that the people who work with the council have very good conditions such as pensions, holidays and sick pay, but I recognise we do have some on very low rates of pay.
“Clackmannanshire Council and other individual councils are in a difficult position here.
“If I was to say I support the workers it would be only words as the council doesn’t have the money to back them up. To do that we would need to get more money from the Scottish Government.”
The last time council workers took industrial action was in March 2006 over proposed changes to their pension plans.
Picket lines were drawn up at various council-run sites across Clackmannanshire including Kelliebank, Lime Tree House and Greenfield House.
Schools and nurseries were shut as council services ground to a halt.
Head of HR for Clackmannanshire Council, Brian Hutchison, said, “Councils have always made it clear we are ready and willing to talk to the trade unions and will make every effort to reach agreement on pay.
“Vulnerable people rely on council services and the staff who deliver them, so I would strongly urge the trade union negotiators to return to the bargaining table to try and avoid strike action.”
UNISON’s local government members in England, Wales and Northern Ireland took strike action over a similar 2.45 per cent offer on 16 and 17 July.
Dave Prentis, general secretary for UNISON said, “UNISON members working in local government in Scotland are gearing up to a 24-hour walkout over pay next week.
“They will be taking action alongside their colleagues in GMB and UNITE over a 2.5 per cent pay offer, for three years, with no re-opener clause.
“With increases in the cost of essentials like fuel, food and housing approaching double figures, this pay offer will force many people to compromise on the basics of life. This has left local government staff with little choice but to take strike action.
“We are always willing to negotiate with the employers and are urging them to get back into talks with us to avoid disruptive strike action.”
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