Scottish local authority craft workers to take strike
action
2 June 2008
Five thousand Unite craft members in Scotland will
take 24 hour strike action from Monday 2nd June and have warned
that they will hold 24 hour stoppages every second Monday after
that date.
Unite craft workers in many local authorities including Glasgow,
Dundee, Edinburgh, Fife, and North & South Lanarkshire are to
strike over being forced to work longer hours than their colleagues
working along side them in Scotland and in the rest of the UK and a
below inflation pay offer. Scottish local authority craft workers
currently work a 39 hour week while craft workers in the rest of
the UK, and other local authority workers in Scotland work 37
hours.
Five years ago other local authority workers in Scotland had their
hours reduced from 39 hours to 37 without any loss of pay.
Unite members have also rejected the 2.45% pay offer as other
workers in Scottish local authorities received a higher pay
increase.
Unite national officer, John Allott, said: "Our members have been
treated with contempt by Scottish local government employers by
offering dedicated workers a below inflation 2.45% pay rise and the
refusal to grant craft workers a 37 hour week as all other local
authority workers have in Scotland and the throughout the UK. This
is indefensible and our members have had enough and are determined
to end this injustice.
"I hope employers will see sense and come back to the negotiating
table so that further planned industrial action can be
avoided."
-ENDS-
Notes to editors:
1. Craft workers taking strike action include plumbers, gas fitters
electricians and lift engineers.
2. Ucatt members have also voted for strike action.
3. Strike action will affect many local authorities in
Scotland.
Contact: Unite press officer, Jody Whitehill 07768 693956 or Unite
national officer, John Allott 07867 786 807, Unite official Alan
Finlayson 07951 520649 and Jimmy Farrelly 07810 157903
