Glasgow - An Historic Day
The Evening Times did well with its coverage of Glasgow's historic equal pay strike and the claimants couldn't be clearer about their frustrations - and reasons for withdrawing their labour.
So let's hope the Council is listening and is now prepared to get down to the serious negotiations that were promised months ago to end this dispute.
https://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/news/17003328.equal-pay-strike-glasgow-carers-felt-they-had-to-leave-their-beloved-clients-to-get-justice/
Equal Pay strike: Glasgow carers felt they had to leave their beloved clients to get justice
By Holly Lennon and Niall Christie - Evening Times
GLASGOW’S carers have said they felt they needed to leave their clients to achieve equal pay justice.
Thousands of Glasgow women sacrificed two days pay to protest their right to an equal wage, with carers across the city walking out yesterday.
Staff have told of their reluctance to take strike action, leaving many of those in need without care during the two days.
However, carers underlined the strong feelings they have for their clients shows the importance they put on this week’s strikes.
Read more: Equal pay women take over George Square
Carer Denise Phillips has worked for Glasgow City Council for 18 years and the 57-year-old has said that nobody wanted the strike action to happen.
She added: “We didn’t for one minute want to leave our clients, but we need to take action.
“This is your fault we are out on strike Glasgow City Council, not the fault of of our members or home carers.
“You’ve been robbing us for years and we’re going to keep fighting. This isn’t going to end until we get satisfaction with the pay we deserve.
“We’re the real ones on the ground and I can assure you that we will be well missed today. But at the end of the day we need to fight for our rights.”
Tracey Smyth is also a carer working with the council. Having done the job for three years, the 40-year-old says pressure on support staff continues to grow but no progress on pay was being made.
As a result, carers backed the action, despite the love they have for those they care for on a daily basis.
Read more: Equal pay women take over George Square
She said: “I don’t want to hurt them, I love my clients. But to be honest we’re not getting enough money.
“Give us what we are due. We deserve this. We’ve worked hard for the people of Glasgow, so the women and men of Glasgow deserve the pay that we need.
“Councillors and politicians say they are listening, but if they had been we wouldn’t have had all this chaos.
“We wouldn’t need to be here today. Ask anybody – nobody wants to be here.”
Many of the 8000 school staff, nursery workers, care workers, caterers and cleaners who took to the streets were involved in the initial 2006 dispute, but are yet to receive their payout.
Strikers said they had lost faith in the willingness of senior officials to deliver the settlements and had been given ‘no choice’ but to take industrial action.
Glasgow City Council cleansing staff showed solidarity with the workers by also taking part in the 48-hour strike.
At Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum, workers of all ages formed a picket line at each of the four entrances backed by GMB and Unison unions.
Read more: Equal pay women take over George Square
The popular attraction was forced to close to the public as it failed to meet the minimum of 16 visitor staff required to open.
Among those striking was commis chef Kelly Hutchison, who has worked for the local authority for 25 years and is the only female in her team.
She said she had ‘lost out’ on the first round of settlements and is the lowest paid member of staff in the kitchen.
Kelly added: “I joined the Union because a lot of the politics in the building is wrong.
“I’m the lowest paid one in there and the only female – how is that fair?
“I’ve been working for the council for 25 years and all I want is to walk away with a decent wage and not have to work all sorts of hours to make ends meet.”
Younger members of the work force, who are on zero hours contracts, joined the strike which began from 7am yesterday.
The Mitchell Library also experienced disruption as cleaners and canteen staff walked out.
Signs were put in place inside the building asking visitors to take any rubbish away with them and use the vending machine if necessary.
Annette Thomson, 65, and Irene Patterson, 57, who have worked at the library for 36 years collectively, were last on the picket line as they waited for the next janitorial shift to arrive.
Having stood outside in the rain since 7am, they were pleased to receive a free lunch from a passing supporter.
“We’ve been waiting so long and nothing has happened.
“This was the last resort”, Annette explained.
“We’ve been to court and they voted in our favour and we still haven’t got anything. The SNP said if they got into power they would get it sorted and they haven’t done anything.
“The amount of money they’ve spent on legal fees would probably pay off a lot of the settlements.
“It’s not like they didn’t know this was happening.
“It’s really quite sad. Nobody wants to do this – it’s awful, especially for the carers. No-one can afford to lose two days pay, no matter who they are.”
Read more: Equal pay women take over George Square
In George Square, crowds gathered as the Equal Pay rally prepared to kick off.
Elizabeth McCloy and Julie Clark, catering staff at Mosspark Primary School, paid tribute to the women who had passed away before seeing the end of the dispute.
Elizabeth, who has worked in the school for 16 years, said: “People have passed away and not received any of the money they are owed.
“It’s money that could have been used to make illness or retirement more comfortable for them.
“If we couldn’t do our job, we would be out the door. The council can’t do their job so they should be out as well.
“They have no respect for women, and the men as well.
“This would have been sorted out years ago if we were men but we’re not going to be quiet about it anymore.
“We all pay council tax - we deserve our money.”
Julie, who has worked for the council for 26 years, said: “We’re angry now. They could have sorted this out years ago.
“Instead they’re making it out as if we’re at fault.”
GLASGOW’S carers have said they felt they needed to leave their clients to achieve equal pay justice.
Thousands of Glasgow women sacrificed two days pay to protest their right to an equal wage, with carers across the city walking out yesterday.
Staff have told of their reluctance to take strike action, leaving many of those in need without care during the two days.
However, carers underlined the strong feelings they have for their clients shows the importance they put on this week’s strikes.
Read more: Equal pay women take over George Square
Carer Denise Phillips has worked for Glasgow City Council for 18 years and the 57-year-old has said that nobody wanted the strike action to happen.
She added: “We didn’t for one minute want to leave our clients, but we need to take action.
“This is your fault we are out on strike Glasgow City Council, not the fault of of our members or home carers.
“You’ve been robbing us for years and we’re going to keep fighting. This isn’t going to end until we get satisfaction with the pay we deserve.
“We’re the real ones on the ground and I can assure you that we will be well missed today. But at the end of the day we need to fight for our rights.”
Tracey Smyth is also a carer working with the council. Having done the job for three years, the 40-year-old says pressure on support staff continues to grow but no progress on pay was being made.
As a result, carers backed the action, despite the love they have for those they care for on a daily basis.
Read more: Equal pay women take over George Square
She said: “I don’t want to hurt them, I love my clients. But to be honest we’re not getting enough money.
“Give us what we are due. We deserve this. We’ve worked hard for the people of Glasgow, so the women and men of Glasgow deserve the pay that we need.
“Councillors and politicians say they are listening, but if they had been we wouldn’t have had all this chaos.
“We wouldn’t need to be here today. Ask anybody – nobody wants to be here.”
Many of the 8000 school staff, nursery workers, care workers, caterers and cleaners who took to the streets were involved in the initial 2006 dispute, but are yet to receive their payout.
Strikers said they had lost faith in the willingness of senior officials to deliver the settlements and had been given ‘no choice’ but to take industrial action.
Glasgow City Council cleansing staff showed solidarity with the workers by also taking part in the 48-hour strike.
At Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum, workers of all ages formed a picket line at each of the four entrances backed by GMB and Unison unions.
Read more: Equal pay women take over George Square
The popular attraction was forced to close to the public as it failed to meet the minimum of 16 visitor staff required to open.
Among those striking was commis chef Kelly Hutchison, who has worked for the local authority for 25 years and is the only female in her team.
She said she had ‘lost out’ on the first round of settlements and is the lowest paid member of staff in the kitchen.
Kelly added: “I joined the Union because a lot of the politics in the building is wrong.
“I’m the lowest paid one in there and the only female – how is that fair?
“I’ve been working for the council for 25 years and all I want is to walk away with a decent wage and not have to work all sorts of hours to make ends meet.”
Younger members of the work force, who are on zero hours contracts, joined the strike which began from 7am yesterday.
The Mitchell Library also experienced disruption as cleaners and canteen staff walked out.
Signs were put in place inside the building asking visitors to take any rubbish away with them and use the vending machine if necessary.
Annette Thomson, 65, and Irene Patterson, 57, who have worked at the library for 36 years collectively, were last on the picket line as they waited for the next janitorial shift to arrive.
Having stood outside in the rain since 7am, they were pleased to receive a free lunch from a passing supporter.
“We’ve been waiting so long and nothing has happened.
“This was the last resort”, Annette explained.
“We’ve been to court and they voted in our favour and we still haven’t got anything. The SNP said if they got into power they would get it sorted and they haven’t done anything.
“The amount of money they’ve spent on legal fees would probably pay off a lot of the settlements.
“It’s not like they didn’t know this was happening.
“It’s really quite sad. Nobody wants to do this – it’s awful, especially for the carers. No-one can afford to lose two days pay, no matter who they are.”
Read more: Equal pay women take over George Square
In George Square, crowds gathered as the Equal Pay rally prepared to kick off.
Elizabeth McCloy and Julie Clark, catering staff at Mosspark Primary School, paid tribute to the women who had passed away before seeing the end of the dispute.
Elizabeth, who has worked in the school for 16 years, said: “People have passed away and not received any of the money they are owed.
“It’s money that could have been used to make illness or retirement more comfortable for them.
“If we couldn’t do our job, we would be out the door. The council can’t do their job so they should be out as well.
“They have no respect for women, and the men as well.
“This would have been sorted out years ago if we were men but we’re not going to be quiet about it anymore.
“We all pay council tax - we deserve our money.”
Julie, who has worked for the council for 26 years, said: “We’re angry now. They could have sorted this out years ago.
“Instead they’re making it out as if we’re at fault.”
