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Showing posts with label News. Show all posts
Showing posts with label News. Show all posts
Saturday, 4 October 2014
New Scotland in UNISON online
Sunday, 7 July 2013
Scotland in UNISON July issue now online
Reports on Local Govt pay, Conference and Mobilise 2013
Click here for a PDF version on the UNISON Scotland Website
Click here for a PDF version on the UNISON Scotland Website
Thursday, 2 October 2008
The Herald: Councils split over increased pay deal
Councils split over increased pay deal
Stewart Paterson
The Herald 2 October 2008
A split has emerged among councils over offering an increased pay deal to end a dispute involving thousands of workers, which has brought public services to a standstill and is due to cause further disruption on Monday.
While council negotiators have officially stuck to an offer of a 2.5% wage rise this year in their negotiations with unions, some Labour councils are privately pushing for a settlement of between 3% and 3.5%, The Herald has learned.
A further round of action in the protracted dispute is due on Monday, with a week-long strike planned by council call- centre staff, which will follow two 24-hour strikes involving around 150,000 workers across Scotland over the past two months...
More on The Herald website
Stewart Paterson
The Herald 2 October 2008
A split has emerged among councils over offering an increased pay deal to end a dispute involving thousands of workers, which has brought public services to a standstill and is due to cause further disruption on Monday.
While council negotiators have officially stuck to an offer of a 2.5% wage rise this year in their negotiations with unions, some Labour councils are privately pushing for a settlement of between 3% and 3.5%, The Herald has learned.
A further round of action in the protracted dispute is due on Monday, with a week-long strike planned by council call- centre staff, which will follow two 24-hour strikes involving around 150,000 workers across Scotland over the past two months...
More on The Herald website
Thursday, 25 September 2008
BBC News: Council workers to strike again
BBC NEWS | Scotland:
Page last updated at 17:35 GMT, Thursday, 25 September 2008 18:35 UK
Page last updated at 17:35 GMT, Thursday, 25 September 2008 18:35 UK
| | |
Unions have set a date for fresh strike action by council workers in a continuing dispute over pay. The announcement came a day after a 24-hour walkout by 150,000 local government staff. Unions are unhappy with a 2.5% pay offer and want 5% instead. Council bosses called for more talks. A Unison spokesman said the forthcoming action would target particular services and would involve lower numbers of workers than previous strikes. He declined to give any indication how long it would last. 'Reality' check However council bosses claim they have already made concessions and the resources are not available to meet the workers' demands. Local authority employers' group Cosla called on the unions to bring more realistic demands to the table. A Cosla spokesman said: "We are prepared to meet with the unions at any time. "We do not want the people of Scotland inconvenienced by unnecessary strike action." He urged the unions to come to any meeting with "a degree of reality in their position". "We have moved twice already firstly to get to 2.5 % (from 2.2%) and then a one-year deal from three. The unions have not moved an inch." Unison Scottish secretary Matt Smith said strike action was "only taken with the greatest of reluctance" and said he hoped the union and Cosla could come to a "negotiated settlement". | |
Wednesday, 24 September 2008
Evening Times: Kelvingrove closed as 200,000 strike over pay
by Gordon Thomson
Glasgow Evening Times
Wednesday 24 September 2008
GLASGOW'S top tourist attraction was shut today - with staff accused of taking "unlawful" strike action. Kelvingrove Art Gallery and 13 other museums across the city failed to open, along with the Tramway Theatre, as staff joined 200,000 council workers from across the country in a day of action over pay.
The city's museums, libraries, leisure sites and community facilities are now run by Culture and Sport Glasgow.
All the major unions say its 2000-strong workforce were eligible to take part in today's stoppage. Bosses, however, dispute that claim. A spokesman said: "Despite unlawful industrial action, the majority of sport and leisure facilities managed by Culture and Sport Glasgow on behalf of the city remain open."
As the row erupted, council services across Scotland ground to a halt.
More from the Evening Times site...
Glasgow Evening Times
Wednesday 24 September 2008
GLASGOW'S top tourist attraction was shut today - with staff accused of taking "unlawful" strike action. Kelvingrove Art Gallery and 13 other museums across the city failed to open, along with the Tramway Theatre, as staff joined 200,000 council workers from across the country in a day of action over pay.
The city's museums, libraries, leisure sites and community facilities are now run by Culture and Sport Glasgow.
All the major unions say its 2000-strong workforce were eligible to take part in today's stoppage. Bosses, however, dispute that claim. A spokesman said: "Despite unlawful industrial action, the majority of sport and leisure facilities managed by Culture and Sport Glasgow on behalf of the city remain open."
As the row erupted, council services across Scotland ground to a halt.
More from the Evening Times site...
Evening Express: Council services cut to the bone in North East
Schools and centres forced to shut doors
By Andrew Whitaker and Neil Evans
Published: 24/09/2008
COUNCIL services were today cut to the bone as a second wave of strike action hit the North-east.
Most schools , community centres and libraries in Aberdeen and Aberdeen were forced to shut their doors as employees protested over their pay packets.
Households now face having to wait up to a week to have rubbish collected.
A total of 103 schools across the region were closed or faced disruption.
Aberdeen City Council was forced to close 30 schools or nurseries, with lesson times axed at a further 14.
Another 39 schools and nurseries were shut in Aberdeenshire Council’s area, with 20 closed or disrupted in Moray
More from the Evening Express site
Evening News: Thousands of pupils stay home as strike closes city schools
24 September 2008
THOUSANDS of school pupils in the Capital stayed at home today as industrial action again forced schools to close their doors.
Council workers are striking over pay for the second time in two months.
A total of 25 primary schools, three nurseries and six special schools in Edinburgh are closed during the 24-hour strike, with a further 16 secondary schools and 12 primaries and nurseries open only to certain year groups.
Industrial action on August 20 closed schools on the first day of the new term and crippled scores of vital services across the city.
Union leaders today called for further local government strike action after pay talks left them "extremely disappointed".
More from the Evening News site
We told you so - questions over pupil safety
UNISON warned on Monday that some Scottish councils are risking children's safety by trying to open schools during today's strike action
Councils put schoolchildren at risk in desperate attempt to undermine staff strike
This viewer comment, posted to the BBC website strike story, appears to confirm that councils that force teachers to open schools are taking risks with pupil safety.
BBC:News: Scotland:Workers in Strike Action:Viewer Comment
Anon, Central Scotland
"I am the head teacher of a large primary school in Central Scotland. Despite my request to my local authority to close my school on safety grounds, having no janitor or support staff, and on health grounds, down to the fact classrooms and toilets will not be cleaned and the bins not emptied, my request was declined. Local Authorities are not willing to support school staff and as a result are putting pupil safety at risk.
I am unwilling to provide my contact details as I know that I will be targeted by the education authority as a result. I also know that I am one of many head teachers who are being forced to put pupils at risk today."
More
Councils put schoolchildren at risk in desperate attempt to undermine staff strike
This viewer comment, posted to the BBC website strike story, appears to confirm that councils that force teachers to open schools are taking risks with pupil safety.
BBC:News: Scotland:Workers in Strike Action:Viewer Comment
Anon, Central Scotland
"I am the head teacher of a large primary school in Central Scotland. Despite my request to my local authority to close my school on safety grounds, having no janitor or support staff, and on health grounds, down to the fact classrooms and toilets will not be cleaned and the bins not emptied, my request was declined. Local Authorities are not willing to support school staff and as a result are putting pupil safety at risk.
I am unwilling to provide my contact details as I know that I will be targeted by the education authority as a result. I also know that I am one of many head teachers who are being forced to put pupils at risk today."
More
BBC News: Strike suspends ferry and schools
Page last updated at 08:28 GMT, Wednesday, 24 September 2008 09:28 UK
BBC News Scotland Highlands & Islands Strike suspends ferry and schools
Strike suspends ferry and schools
Many schools on the Western Isles and in the Highlands are closed as a result of industrial action by council staff.
The walkout involves hundreds of employees of Comhairle nan Eilean Siar and Highland Council.
Large schools on the islands are affected, while almost 50 primaries in the Highlands are shut to pupils.
Recycling centres are closed, refuse collections not being made, registration offices shut and Highland Council's Corran Ferry did not operate.
In the Highlands, 10 secondary schools are shut and eight are limiting classes to older year groups.
Nurseries are also affected and almost 50 primary schools are closed.
Comhairle nan Eilean Siar said its offices in Stornoway and Balivanich are closed.
Offices in Castlebay and Tarbert are open, but may be subject to limited services.
Many islands schools, particularly the larger ones, are closed due to a lack of support staff and disruption to local authority-run bus services.
More
BBC News Scotland Highlands & Islands Strike suspends ferry and schools
Strike suspends ferry and schools
Many schools on the Western Isles and in the Highlands are closed as a result of industrial action by council staff.
The walkout involves hundreds of employees of Comhairle nan Eilean Siar and Highland Council.
Large schools on the islands are affected, while almost 50 primaries in the Highlands are shut to pupils.
Recycling centres are closed, refuse collections not being made, registration offices shut and Highland Council's Corran Ferry did not operate.
In the Highlands, 10 secondary schools are shut and eight are limiting classes to older year groups.
Nurseries are also affected and almost 50 primary schools are closed.
Comhairle nan Eilean Siar said its offices in Stornoway and Balivanich are closed.
Offices in Castlebay and Tarbert are open, but may be subject to limited services.
Many islands schools, particularly the larger ones, are closed due to a lack of support staff and disruption to local authority-run bus services.
More
Press Association: Council workers stage second strike
from Press Association
SCOTLAND Strike
24 Sep 2008 - 09:05
By Lucinda Cameron and Sam Reeves, Scottish Press Association (ScotFile:News special)
Tens of thousands of local government workers staged a another one-day strike today in a dispute over pay.
The action - the second in five weeks - disrupted schools, rubbish collections, ferry services and other council services.
Union leaders predicted about 150,000 staff across Scotland were taking part in the one-day walkout, in the continuing stand-off with council bosses.
It comes just over a month after a first council workers strike over the same issue brought widespread disruption.
Discontent at an offer of 2.5% for each of the next three years is at the heart of the row.
Many councils have listed services affected by the strike on their website.
Ferry operator Caledonian MacBrayne said that today's sailings between Gourock and Dunoon and between Wemyss Bay and Rothesay have been cancelled because of industrial action by Argyll and Bute council staff.
Unison, the main union involved in the strike, said council chiefs had failed to live up to their promise of improving the offer after the first strike.
Glyn Hawker, Scottish organiser of Unison, said the action was going well so far today.
She said: "It's still very early but the indications are that there are a lot of people involved.
"Reports I've had from colleagues show it's going very well and there is a lot of support for the strike.
"We hope that it will bring our employers back into negotiation with a revised and improved pay offer for our members.
"We hope they will recognise the strength of feeling and unhappiness and agree to meet."
Unison represents about 100,000 local government workers. The other unions involved are GMB and Unite.
A major demonstration is taking place in Edinburgh, with a rally in Princes Street Gardens.
Other rallies were being held in Aberdeen, Dumfries, Dundee and Inverness.
Unison also expressed concern that councils plan to open some schools that were closed during last month's strike.
It said there will be a lack of trained staff in the schools and children will be put at risk.
Local authority employers' group Cosla said it was disappointed the workers were set to bring further misery to communities.
It said compromises had been made over the pay issue and said the unions should be more realistic in their demands.
A spokesman said: "We are disappointed that the unions are putting communities through another day of unnecessary action.
"Striking is not the way to resolve this. As employers we are always willing to talk - we want to settle this dispute - but there must be a reality check from our unions .
"We have already moved in terms of a one-year deal and the time has now come for the unions to be more realistic in their demands."
ends
SCOTLAND Strike
24 Sep 2008 - 09:05
By Lucinda Cameron and Sam Reeves, Scottish Press Association (ScotFile:News special)
Tens of thousands of local government workers staged a another one-day strike today in a dispute over pay.
The action - the second in five weeks - disrupted schools, rubbish collections, ferry services and other council services.
Union leaders predicted about 150,000 staff across Scotland were taking part in the one-day walkout, in the continuing stand-off with council bosses.
It comes just over a month after a first council workers strike over the same issue brought widespread disruption.
Discontent at an offer of 2.5% for each of the next three years is at the heart of the row.
Many councils have listed services affected by the strike on their website.
Ferry operator Caledonian MacBrayne said that today's sailings between Gourock and Dunoon and between Wemyss Bay and Rothesay have been cancelled because of industrial action by Argyll and Bute council staff.
Unison, the main union involved in the strike, said council chiefs had failed to live up to their promise of improving the offer after the first strike.
Glyn Hawker, Scottish organiser of Unison, said the action was going well so far today.
She said: "It's still very early but the indications are that there are a lot of people involved.
"Reports I've had from colleagues show it's going very well and there is a lot of support for the strike.
"We hope that it will bring our employers back into negotiation with a revised and improved pay offer for our members.
"We hope they will recognise the strength of feeling and unhappiness and agree to meet."
Unison represents about 100,000 local government workers. The other unions involved are GMB and Unite.
A major demonstration is taking place in Edinburgh, with a rally in Princes Street Gardens.
Other rallies were being held in Aberdeen, Dumfries, Dundee and Inverness.
Unison also expressed concern that councils plan to open some schools that were closed during last month's strike.
It said there will be a lack of trained staff in the schools and children will be put at risk.
Local authority employers' group Cosla said it was disappointed the workers were set to bring further misery to communities.
It said compromises had been made over the pay issue and said the unions should be more realistic in their demands.
A spokesman said: "We are disappointed that the unions are putting communities through another day of unnecessary action.
"Striking is not the way to resolve this. As employers we are always willing to talk - we want to settle this dispute - but there must be a reality check from our unions .
"We have already moved in terms of a one-year deal and the time has now come for the unions to be more realistic in their demands."
ends
BBC News: Admin Worker's Happy 60th Birthday on the picket line!
 |
| From Glasgow Wed 24 Sep |
Shirley Buchanan, an admin assistant at Glasgow City Council, will be celebrating her 60th birthday while taking part in the strike.
"It will be something to remember it by," she said...
She has been involved in a number of strikes during her 20 years as a council employee, but thinks this dispute is one of the worst.
"I think it's more serious because of the current rate of inflation," she said. "No one has extra money.
"Prices are shooting up daily. Food, fuel, everything is going up except our wages."
Ms Buchanan said low-paid female workers were suffering most.
She said: "They have families to support and they've got a pay rise that's the equivalent of just 42p a week."
Ms Buchanan said she believed she had no choice but to take part in the walkout.
"It's a big thing for anyone to get involved in strike action, but it's the only way to get employers round the table," she said.
More
UNISON Scottish Secretary lays it on the line for COSLA
 |
| Matt Smith says CoSLA needs a reality check |
7am newsflash: Matt Smith on Good Morning Scotland radio programme
UNISON's Scottish Secretary Matt Smith speaking on BBC Radio's Good Morning Scotland said that:
"Attitudes have hardened on behalf of the unions since last month's Day of Action because our members feel really let down by the employers. There is not a penny more on the table.
CoSLA badly needs a reality check
The employers told us 5 weeks ago that they would make an offer in terms of the increases in inflation.
They have refused to put another penny on the table.
Until CoSLA makes a better offer this strike action will continue."
For the employers Councillor Michael Cook claimed CoSLA had demonstrated flexibility, having improved the offer in March and said that jobs and services were at stake as a result of inflation and wage demands.
Matt Smith responded by saying: "We're always told that by employers. We have made a claim, and we want to negotiate around it.
Our members are the victims of inflation, not the cause of it. They need a decent pay rise, certainly not at half the level of inflation."
Round one to Matt!
BBC News: Council staff set to strike again
BBC NEWS | Scotland | Glasgow, Lanarkshire and West | Council staff set to strike again:
Page last updated at 23:18 GMT, Tuesday, 23 September 2008 00:18 UK
Schools, ferry services and rubbish collections are to be disrupted again as Scottish council workers stage the second strike over pay in two months.
Up to 150,000 members of the Unite, Unison and GMB unions were due to take part in the 24-hour walkout.
It comes after the rejection of an amended offer from local authority umbrella group Cosla to reduce the 2.5% pay offer from three years to one year.
The unions are calling for a 5% increase in line with inflation.
Dougie Black, Unison Scotland regional officer said the employers' offer amounted to a pay cut.
He said: 'The action will send a very clear message to the employers. Your failure to improve your offer after making public commitments to do so has angered your staff.
'Taking further industrial action is regrettable, but we have no alternative given the employer's behaviour over this.'
More...
Page last updated at 23:18 GMT, Tuesday, 23 September 2008 00:18 UK
Schools, ferry services and rubbish collections are to be disrupted again as Scottish council workers stage the second strike over pay in two months.
Up to 150,000 members of the Unite, Unison and GMB unions were due to take part in the 24-hour walkout.
It comes after the rejection of an amended offer from local authority umbrella group Cosla to reduce the 2.5% pay offer from three years to one year.
The unions are calling for a 5% increase in line with inflation.
Dougie Black, Unison Scotland regional officer said the employers' offer amounted to a pay cut.
He said: 'The action will send a very clear message to the employers. Your failure to improve your offer after making public commitments to do so has angered your staff.
'Taking further industrial action is regrettable, but we have no alternative given the employer's behaviour over this.'
More...
Tuesday, 23 September 2008
BBC News: New offer for court strike staff
BBC NEWS | Scotland | New offer for court strike staff: Page last updated at 11:59 GMT, Tuesday, 23 September 2008 12:59 UK
An improved pay offer is to be made to hundreds of court staff in Scotland who are holding a day of strike action, BBC Scotland understands.
The Public and Commercial Service (PCS) union said the action had caused major disruption to the justice system.
However, a new deal for members of the Crown Office and court administration staff is being assessed by ministers before being put to the union.
More...
Monday, 22 September 2008
BBC News: Union in 'cost of living' protest
BBC NEWS | Scotland | Scotland politics | Union in 'cost of living' protest:
Page last updated at 09:04 GMT, Monday, 22 September 2008 10:04 UK
"Union in 'cost of living' protest
The trade union Unison is staging a 'cost of living' protest as part of its dispute over a 2.5% pay offer to council workers across Scotland.
Union members will dress up as various items in the family budget to highlight their local government pay concerns."
more...
Page last updated at 09:04 GMT, Monday, 22 September 2008 10:04 UK
"Union in 'cost of living' protest
The trade union Unison is staging a 'cost of living' protest as part of its dispute over a 2.5% pay offer to council workers across Scotland.
Union members will dress up as various items in the family budget to highlight their local government pay concerns."
more...
Wednesday, 17 September 2008
BBC News: Union warns over council strike
 A strike last month disrupted services |
BBC NEWS | Scotland:
Page last updated at 17:40 GMT, Wednesday, 17 September 2008 18:40 UK
Union officials have warned there could be more action beyond a one-day strike planned for next week, in a dispute over local government pay.
The Unison union has rejected a 2.5% pay offer and members are due to strike on Wednesday 24 September. Rallies are planned for Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Inverness.
Friday, 5 September 2008
The Herald: Union sets date for new strike by public sector staff
The Herald Sat 6 Sep
"Scotland will face another day of disruption later this month following yesterday's confirmation by Unison members that they will strike on September 24.
Union chiefs felt they had "no alternative" but to take further strike action as part of a dispute over council workers' pay...
A Unison local government conference in Glasgow yesterday agreed to stage the further one-day stoppage.
The union is also planning selective action involving groups of council workers from the start of October, with the possibility of these lasting up to a week."
More...
See also UNISON press statement UNISON Scotland set to step up strike action as councils fail to improve pay offer
"Scotland will face another day of disruption later this month following yesterday's confirmation by Unison members that they will strike on September 24.
Union chiefs felt they had "no alternative" but to take further strike action as part of a dispute over council workers' pay...
A Unison local government conference in Glasgow yesterday agreed to stage the further one-day stoppage.
The union is also planning selective action involving groups of council workers from the start of October, with the possibility of these lasting up to a week."
More...
See also UNISON press statement UNISON Scotland set to step up strike action as councils fail to improve pay offer
BBC News: Council union in one-day strike
 Unions took strike action last month |
A local government union has called another one-day strike across Scotland in pursuit of its pay claim.
About 100,000 Unison members will walk out on Wednesday 24 September.
The action could be followed by a programme of disruption involving groups of council workers being brought out for up to a week at a time.
Last month 150,000 members of Unison, Unite and the GMB took one-day strike action. The other unions are yet to decide if they will walk out again.
The unions said an offer of a 2.5% pay rise was, in effect, a pay cut.
Talks between local government body Cosla and the three unions broke down earlier this week.
More...
Saturday, 23 August 2008
The Herald: Unions claim a win in return to negotiating table
The Herald Sat 23 Aug
"Local authority unions yesterday agreed to return to the negotiating table in the wake of this week's strike by up to 200,000 council employees which crippled public services across Scotland."
More...
See also UNISON press statement Successful strike action brings reopening of talks
"Local authority unions yesterday agreed to return to the negotiating table in the wake of this week's strike by up to 200,000 council employees which crippled public services across Scotland."
More...
See also UNISON press statement Successful strike action brings reopening of talks
Thursday, 21 August 2008
The Herald: Unions in threat to step up council dispute
The Herald Thu 21 August 2008
"Union chiefs are warning of an escalation in their dispute with Scotland's councils "within weeks" as a strike by tens of thousands of workers brought disruption to key services across the country.
Up to 200,000 local authority employees across Scotland were estimated to have taken part in the 24-hour walkout which yesterday left schools closed, bins left unemptied, ferries cancelled, day care and sports centres shut and libraries closed.
The leaders of the main unions have said the action provides the councils with a "window of opportunity" to restart negotiations but said that strategies were in place which could see an autumn of discontent with further days of action within the next month."
more...
"Union chiefs are warning of an escalation in their dispute with Scotland's councils "within weeks" as a strike by tens of thousands of workers brought disruption to key services across the country.Up to 200,000 local authority employees across Scotland were estimated to have taken part in the 24-hour walkout which yesterday left schools closed, bins left unemptied, ferries cancelled, day care and sports centres shut and libraries closed.
The leaders of the main unions have said the action provides the councils with a "window of opportunity" to restart negotiations but said that strategies were in place which could see an autumn of discontent with further days of action within the next month."
more...
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