Hundreds of Glasgow City Council workers vote to strike
95% of GMB members balloted in favour of industrial action in dispute over pay and conditions
Hundreds of Glasgow City Council workers are threatening strike action in a dispute about pay and conditions.
The GMB union says they balloted those who work in refuse, street cleaning, parks and gardens and social work and 95% voted in favour of a walk out.
Workers were balloted after the Council tabled proposals that the union says will see pay and conditions slashed for many members as part of a drive to save money.
The union says the local authority are facing a budget shortfall of £133 million and want to cut £4 million from the departments.
Benny Rankin GMB officer said: "Glasgow City Council drove their tanks onto our collective lawn by tabling plans to decimate pay and conditions for workers in core front line services. Senior officials in the City Chambers picked this fight and GMB Scotland has now given our response. If they want a fight we are ready.
The streets of Glasgow are already dirty and unkempt because we just don't have enough workers to cope. This spring and summer visitors and residents will be faced with parks, gardens and streets that will be piled high with rubbish.
There has never been such a level of support for strike action in living memory. After years of pay freezes and seeing their standard of living eroded, our members have had enough.
Low paid council workers are not going to pay for the financial crisis in Glasgow. We don't care if the financial problems are down to John Swinney's cuts or failings in Glasgow City Council, enough is enough. We demand that Glasgow City Council immediately withdraw the cuts to pay and conditions they tabled. If they do not, we will move to a formal ballot for strike action.
GMB Scotland shop stewards will convene a ‘council of war’ this week to prepare for strikes."
Cllr Frank McAveety, Leader of Glasgow City Council, said: “I’m surprised to hear of these claims from the GMB. When the budget options are put to the council next week, I believe there will be no grounds for the threat of strikes.
“We have consulted with the unions every step of the way and have delivered our pledge of no compulsory redundancies. Staff will also have among the best terms and conditions in the country.
“This is despite having to save £130m over the next two years after the Scottish Government made unprecedented cuts to our budget.”