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Wednesday, 04 June 2008

Unions Win Better Pay For Scottish Local Government Craft Workers But Long Hours Culture Must End

Unions representing Scottish local government craft workers, led by construction union UCATT, have claimed victory in the first round of their battle to win improved pay and conditions for their members.

Following the first successful strike action last Monday (June 2) the unions UCATT, UNITE and the GMB today met with the employers side COSLA, to discuss how further strike action can be averted.

The employers agreed to improve the 2007 pay offer and increased the pay increase to 2.5 per cent for local government craft workers (carpenters, bricklayers, painters, labourers, electricians and plumbers) in line with all other local government workers in Scotland.

While the agreement on pay has been welcomed by the unions, the dispute will continue with workers striking for 24 hour every second Monday (the next strike is set for June 16) in councils which do not implement a 37 hour week for craft workers.

Currently 13 out of 32 Scottish local authorities insist that craft workers, work in excess of 37 hours. Noting the seriousness of the situation COSLA has stepped in and requested that the councils involved meet the unions next week, to hammer out a deal.

Unions will continue to hold 24 hour stoppages every fortnight in councils that fail to reduce the working week to 37 hours.

Harry Frew, regional secretary of UCATT’s Scottish region and the secretary of the Unions Joint Negotiating Committee, said: “Time is of the essence. The ball is firmly in the councils court if they wish to resolve the industrial action before the next strike action on June 16.”

The 13 local authorities which have a working week in excess of 37 hours and where strike action took place on Monday June 2 are: Dundee, East Dunbartonshire, Edinburgh, Falkirk, Fife, Glasgow, Inverclyde, Midlothian, North Ayrshire, North Lanarkshire, South Ayrshire, South Lanarkshire and Stirling.

For Further information contact Barckley Sumner on 0780 2329235

Harry Frew is available for interview