UNISON. Scotland's biggest and liveliest trade union, representing members delivering public and related services.
Showing posts with label Strike 24 Sep 2008. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Strike 24 Sep 2008. Show all posts
Tuesday, 30 September 2008
Monday, 29 September 2008
UNISON response to CoSLA talks offer
Council leaders invite unions for more talks "with a view to reaching a settlement"
The three trade unions will have further talks with CoSLA leaders on Thursday 2nd October after Councillor Cook, CoSLA's Human Resources spokesperson, extended the invitation "with a view to reaching a settlement" following a meeting of council leaders on 26th Sept 2008.
In response to the offer, Matt Smith, UNISON's Scottish Secretary said "We welcome this offer of talks, as we have always said that this dispute will only be settled by a negotiated settlement which is realistic and not merely a repeat of the last offer."
Mon 29 September
The three trade unions will have further talks with CoSLA leaders on Thursday 2nd October after Councillor Cook, CoSLA's Human Resources spokesperson, extended the invitation "with a view to reaching a settlement" following a meeting of council leaders on 26th Sept 2008.
In response to the offer, Matt Smith, UNISON's Scottish Secretary said "We welcome this offer of talks, as we have always said that this dispute will only be settled by a negotiated settlement which is realistic and not merely a repeat of the last offer."
Mon 29 September
Thursday, 25 September 2008
UNISON calls on Council Leaders to resolve pay dispute
UNISON, Scotland’s largest council union, today wrote to CoSLA’a lead negotiator and all of Scotland’s council leaders calling for negotiations on the current pay dispute ahead of further action.
This letter follows a successful second day of action by all three council unions - UNISON, GMB and Unite - which disrupted council services across Scotland yesterday.
Matt Smith, UNISON’s Scottish Secretary said:
“We are seeking to break the impasse reported in the press today. Despite CoSLA’s claim that the unions refuse to negotiate, we have always known that the best way to resolve this matter is through a negotiated settlement. Both parties need to be prepared to negotiate and this continues to be our position.”
UNISON points out in the letter that it will also be writing to Scottish Councils warning them of further selective strikes, due to begin on the 6 October should they be required.
This letter follows a successful second day of action by all three council unions - UNISON, GMB and Unite - which disrupted council services across Scotland yesterday.
Matt Smith, UNISON’s Scottish Secretary said:
“We are seeking to break the impasse reported in the press today. Despite CoSLA’s claim that the unions refuse to negotiate, we have always known that the best way to resolve this matter is through a negotiated settlement. Both parties need to be prepared to negotiate and this continues to be our position.”
UNISON points out in the letter that it will also be writing to Scottish Councils warning them of further selective strikes, due to begin on the 6 October should they be required.
The Herald: More action planned after second council pay row strike
More Action Planned After Second Council Pay Row Strike:
The Herald Thursday 25 September 2008
"Unions are planning a further round of council strikes for next month after yesterday's action by some 150,000 workers failed to bring a settlement to the protracted pay dispute any closer.
The second one-day strike in five weeks by Unison, GMB and Unite members led to widespread closure of schools, libraries, museums, community centres and the cancellation of bin collections and ferry services across Scotland.
Plans are now being drawn up for a series of smaller strikes targeting specific local authority areas from October 6 and initially lasting a fortnight."
More...
The Herald Thursday 25 September 2008
"Unions are planning a further round of council strikes for next month after yesterday's action by some 150,000 workers failed to bring a settlement to the protracted pay dispute any closer.
The second one-day strike in five weeks by Unison, GMB and Unite members led to widespread closure of schools, libraries, museums, community centres and the cancellation of bin collections and ferry services across Scotland.
Plans are now being drawn up for a series of smaller strikes targeting specific local authority areas from October 6 and initially lasting a fortnight."
More...
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...
Strong support in the Western Isles and Highlands
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| From Western Isles Wed 24 Sep |
All fired up on the picket lines in the Western Isles
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| From Western Isles Wed 24 Sep |
HQ in Stornoway
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| From Highland Wed 24 Sep |
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| From Highland Wed 24 Sep |
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| From Highland Wed 24 Sep |
Pickets at Muirtown Primary School
More Western Isles photos. More Highlands photos.
Edinburgh Rally - more photos from a hugely successful day of action
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| From Edinburgh Wed 24 Sep |
North Ayrshire marchers hold their banner high
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| From Edinburgh Wed 24 Sep |
It's nearly lift-off for this UNISON ballooning trio
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| From Edinburgh Wed 24 Sep |
Scottish Secretary Matt Smith welcomes some youthful supporters
More Photos from Edinburgh
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
5,000 rally in Edinburgh to support the strike
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| From Edinburgh Wed 24 Sep |
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| From Edinburgh Wed 24 Sep |
UNISON NEC member Jane Carolan spoke at the demo in Princes Street Garden. The Ross Bandstand was festooned with UNISON colours.
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| From Edinburgh Wed 24 Sep |
Party atmosphere as the rain stayed away - sunhats and deckchairs show the eternal optimisim of the UNISON supporters. Venceremos!
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| From Edinburgh Wed 24 Sep |
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| From Edinburgh Wed 24 Sep |
Parents angry at children being put at risk - East Ayrshire
FROM EAST AYRSHIRE UNISON
The good news - more pickets on picket lines than the last day of action - with lots of schools having picket lines on. At Kirkstyle Primary the pickets said that many parents turned up at the school with the children and, after reading the leaflet the Branch had produced about the Health & Safety issues, turned and took their children home. Many were disgusted that the Council had put their children at risk and had not given the parents full details when informing them the schools would be open.
The Rally at The Cross in Kilmarnock saw two monkeys giving peanuts to the public - telling them the price of the packet of nuts was what the employer thought they were worth. The Branch handed out several hundred bags of nuts to the public - who were very supportive of the action.
All in all a very successful day
More photos.
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| East Ayrshire pickets |
The good news - more pickets on picket lines than the last day of action - with lots of schools having picket lines on. At Kirkstyle Primary the pickets said that many parents turned up at the school with the children and, after reading the leaflet the Branch had produced about the Health & Safety issues, turned and took their children home. Many were disgusted that the Council had put their children at risk and had not given the parents full details when informing them the schools would be open.
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| Employers reckon we're worth peanuts |
The Rally at The Cross in Kilmarnock saw two monkeys giving peanuts to the public - telling them the price of the packet of nuts was what the employer thought they were worth. The Branch handed out several hundred bags of nuts to the public - who were very supportive of the action.
All in all a very successful day
More photos.
North Lanarkshire pickets convince sly 'strike breaker' to give up
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| There were lots of smiles on picket lines across North Lanarkshire today - not just at the strength of support for the strike... |
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| A sly strike breaker approached one picket line... |
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| But after thinking it over... |
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| He decided not to cross. |
North Lanarkshire Photos. More strike photos.
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
Council services grind to a halt across Scotland
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| Sunshine for rally in Dumfries. Great public support, cars hooting all the time.. Very good support from the EIS.Dumfries Wed 24 Sep |
UNISON Scotland Press Statement
Embargo: For immediate Release
24 September 2008
Council services grind to a halt across Scotland.
UNISON, Scotland’s largest council union, said that today’s strike has been massively successful, with similar numbers (around 150,000) taking part as in the last strike on 20 August. That strike prompted employers to offer further talks and ‘to look to a settlement which takes account of the rise’ in inflation since their first offer. The failure of the employers to improve their offer at that meeting – whether this was because of internal inability to agree or reneging on public commitments - led directly to this further strike by the three unions involved in the action (UNISON, GMB and Unite).
The action is hitting council services across Scotland, disrupting schools, nurseries and community education, social care services, cleansing and environmental health, housing, planning, roads and transport – including closing ferry services in Argyll and the Highlands – registry services, parks, leisure and recreation, libraries and museums, halls and theatres and many more.
Matt Smith, UNISON’s Scottish Secretary said
“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, despite their public recognition of the need to reconsider the offer.
“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, but they have refused to put another penny on the table.
“Until CoSLA makes a better offer strike action will continue."
A major demonstration will take place in Edinburgh, with a rally at 1.00pm at the Ross bandstand at Princes Street Gardens. Speaking will be UNISON’s Scottish Organiser, Glyn Hawker, and Angela Nicoll, a low paid nursery nurse from West Dunbartonshire. There will also be speakers from the GMB and Unite.
Whilst this will be the main focus, other rallies will take place in parts of Scotland where members would have difficulty attending Edinburgh. Rallies are planned in Aberdeen, Inverness, Dundee, and Dumfries. Details are on our website at http://www.unison-scotland.org.uk/localgovt/pay2008/strikeday.html
Glyn Hawker said,
“Taking further industrial action is regrettable, but our members and their colleagues have no alternative. The employers’ betrayal has angered our members. Our members are not the causes of inflation or the credit crunch, they are the victims of it. The success of today’s action shows that they simply want to be treated fairly by their employers.”
Attempts by a number of councils to open schools that were closed last month, have been condemned by the union. These have been done with no or untrained staff covering fire safety and health and safety, with no lunches or no hot lunches – even where children get free school lunches, with pupils drafted in to keep schools clean, and planning to abandon procedures to warn parents if pupils fail to arrive, or to enable parents to contact the school.
Tracey Dalling, UNISON’s Regional Organiser for local government said
“It is extremely worrying that some councils are risking our kids’ safety in order to try and claim some kind of one-upmanship over their striking staff, and it is very confusing for parents. These frantic half-baked plans to try to open schools not only put children at risk, but mean that parents don’t know whether to send children to school or not. Councils have had weeks to give a clear message to parents, where they are trying this tactic they are not only angering support staff, but alienating teachers and parents.”
Standing firm on the Glasgow City Chambers picket
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| From Glasgow Wed 24 Sep |
More Glasgow pics including 60 years-young birthday picket Shirley Buchanan at the Glasgow strike day folder on the UNISON Scotland web gallery.
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!
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| 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
Just capital: UNISON picket on Edinburgh's High Street, 7.30am
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| From Edinburgh Mon 24 Sep |
On the picket line at the city chambers in Edinburgh at 7.30am
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