Glasgow - Equal Pay Strikes Loom in 2022

 

Glasgow's fight for equal pay has gone very quiet in recent weeks, but there's a lot going on behind the scenes.

The trade unions have carried out consultative ballots of their members which returned huge majorities in support of industrial action.

The results of the ballots have been shared with the council's political leaders and senior management who can be in no doubt about the strength of feeling amongst union members in Glasgow. 

The unions' position is that they will proceed to a full  industrial action ballot in the New Year, to comply with the relevant legislation, if the SNP led council refuses to enter into serious negotiations based on the earlier 2018 settlement agreement.

Glasgow City Council, of course, is attempting to tear up the agreement reached in 2018 and is seeking to impose a new settlement based on inferior terms.

So once the festive period is over it should be a really lively start to 2022!

Glasgow, Councillors, Strikes and Equal Pay (November 25, 2021)

 

I am not in the least surprised by the GMB ballot result of union members in Glasgow who, by a 99% majority, say they are prepared to take strike action over their fight for equal pay.

Glasgow City Council is now trying to renege on its previous approach to settling outstanding claims while Glasgow MSPs and Scottish ministers are trying to wash their hands of the affair, disgracefully so given their lack of leadership over the years.

Yet at the same time the SNP have been bending over backwards to boost the pay of local SNP councillors including some senior councillors with full-time, salaried council jobs. 

Now this would be bad enough if this were being done with private SNP money.

Because how can people take on additional and regular second or third jobs, if they are already being paid for a demanding council role which requires a full-time commitment?  

Doesn't make sense if you ask me, particularly for the public purse, but it's being done with the knowledge and apparent connivance of senior figures in the SNP who really ought to know better.

And unless I'm wrong this appalling, hypocritical behaviour will make Glasgow's equal pay claimants very angry. 

Glasgow's Fight For Equal Pay (November 21, 2021)

 

Glasgow's fight for equal pay has just taken an interesting turn with a consultative ballot by the GMB union returning an overwhelming 99% result in support of industrial action.

I would say the ball is now firmly in Glasgow City Council's court.