Thousands of Scots to strike in biggest co-ordinated action in decades
Its being dubbed a 'mini lockdown'
Last updated 1st Feb 2023
Around 50,000 workers across Scotland are set to down tools in a co-ordinated day of strike action.
Civil servants, higher education staff, teachers, some rail operators and coffin makers will walk out on Wednesday as part of a nationwide defence of the right to strike, organised by the Trades Union Congress (TUC).
The Scottish Trades Union Congress (STUC) estimates 500,000 workers across Scotland will walk out in what is the biggest day of co-ordinated strike action in decades.
The strike action also hits the Scottish Parliament
Around 100,000 civil servants will walk out across the UK for one day of action across most government departments, the PCS union said, including staff working at the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh and the Scottish Government.
Controversial Westminster anti-strikes bill
It comes in response to UK Government legislation which will seek to limit strike action and allow employers to put in place minimum levels of service during strikes.
The SNP, Conservatives and Liberal Democrats have previously said they will be attending as normal.
The Scottish Greens and Scottish Labour will not be participating in any parliamentary business on Wednesday.
Maggie Chapman, Green MSP for North East Scotland, said: "The Scottish Greens stand firmly with striking workers. We will not cross any virtual or physical picket lines and hope that MSPs from all parties will join us in that.
"With the Tories introducing a range of new and repressive anti-trade union legislation, it is more vital than ever that we stand in unity and solidarity.
"So many of our existing rights have been won by working people coming together and taking action. Whether it is minimum wage, paid holidays or weekends, all of these rights have been hard fought and won by organised, unionised workers.
Who else is walking out?
Courts and tribunals may also see disruption but those due to attend court on Wednesday have been advised to do so, the Crown Office and Prosecution Service said.
Higher education workers will also walk out as part of their ongoing dispute over pensions, pay and conditions.
Members of the University and College Union (UCU) at the majority of Scotland's universities will take strike action.
Some train company workers have also walked out, affecting some services to Scotland.
Train drivers in Aslef and the Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT) are embroiled in a long-running dispute over pay and conditions.
Services will be severely affected on Wednesday, and again on Friday during a second strike, with some areas having no trains at all and those that do run will start later and finish earlier than usual.
However, ScotRail says services will operate as normal on Wednesday.
LNER is running a limited service from Edinburgh south of the border, but no trains will run any further north than Edinburgh.
Avanti West Coast has advised customers not to travel on Wednesday or Friday.
School strikes will continue in Clackmannanshire and Aberdeen as part of the 16-day rolling strike action by the EIS union.
Wednesday's national day of action will culminate in a Right To Strike rally organised by the STUC and will be addressed by SNP Westminster leader Stephen Flynn, Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar and STUC general secretary Roz Foyer.
Rallies will also take place in Glasgow, Edinburgh and Dundee throughout the day.
UK Government defends policy to 'keep public safe'
Business Secretary Grant Shapps said: "The first job of any government is to keep the public safe. Because whilst we absolutely believe in the ability to strike, we are duty-bound to protect the lives and livelihoods of the British people.
"I am introducing a Bill that will give government the power to ensure that vital public services will have to maintain a basic function, by delivering minimum safety levels ensuring that lives and livelihoods are not lost.
"We do not want to have to use this legislation unless we have to, but we must ensure the safety of the British public."
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