West Lothian council facing craft worker strike over pay dispute

It comes after previous walk outs in October

300 craft workers are set to walk out in December
Author: Lana MackayPublished 15th Dec 2023

Around 300 craft workers are set to strike again next week in a pay dispute with a “Scrooge” council, a union has said.

Trade union Unite claims West Lothian Council has refused to pay workers who have undertaken and continue to perform additional tasks, violating a deal made in 2007 covering a range of trades employed by local authorities and outsourced workplaces.

It affects craft workers who maintain council buildings and houses including joiners, bricklayers, plasterers, painters, labourers and technicians.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: "West Lothian Council is digging a deeper and deeper hole for itself. Not only is it refusing to pay our members for the additional tasks carried out, but now they have also chosen to delay a pay increase in time for Christmas.

Strike action is due to take place on December 19, 20 and 21

"Unite's craft members will have their union's full support in the fight to have their jobs, pay and conditions respected by this Scrooge council as they begin their latest rounds of strike action."

Strike action is due to take place on December 19, 20 and 21 followed by a further two days on January 3 and 4, with members previously walking out in October.

The union also claimed West Lothian Council has told them they will not be receiving the Scotland-wide Cosla craft workers' pay rise in their December pay, citing a lack of time for processing the payments.

Unite industrial officer Graeme Turnbull said: "Around 300 craft workers will resume strike action due to West Lothian Council's callous behaviour.

"This stingy council seems incapable of having any festive feelings"

"Instead of trying to resolve this dispute, the council has decided to pour petrol on the flames of our members' anger by also delaying a well-deserved pay increase.

"We are talking about significant sums of money for workers and their families which is being unfairly delayed and denied to them.

"Our members have no choice but to take strike action because this stingy council seems incapable of having any festive feelings."

West Lothian Council has been asked for comment.

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Grant Thomson

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