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Trade Unions To Consult Activists On Last Stage In Scottish Local Government Dispute

Representatives from the joint trade unions met local government representatives today (June 11) in Edinburgh for fresh talks in a bid to resolve the local government dispute, involving craft workers.

The dispute involves carpenters, bricklayers, painters, electricians, gas fitters and plumbers and has been caused by the failure of 11 of Scotland’s 32 local authorities to reduce the working week to 37 hours.

Both sides agreed a form of wording, which could possibly lead to the end of the dispute or a suspension of strike action. The joint unions (UCATT, Unite and the GMB) will now hold meetings on Thursday and Friday this week with their shop stewards/strike committees. The unions will then make a joint decision whether to suspend the next 24-hour strike planned for Monday 16 June.

Following the meeting Harry Frew, the joint union secretary and the UCATT regional secretary for Scotland said: “Some progress was made at today’s meetings. However the union side were disappointed that the councils involved did not set a deadline about when the dispute about the 37 hour week could be resolved.”

The unions will issue a fresh joint statement on Friday morning.

The 11 local authorities involved Dundee, East Dunbartonshire, Edinburgh, Falkirk, Fife, , Inverclyde, Midlothian, North Ayrshire, South Ayrshire, South Lanarkshire and Stirling. The dispute also involves workers employed in ALMO’s at Glasgow and North Lanarkshire.

The first 24 hour stoppage took place on Monday June 2. Further strikes have been scheduled for every second Monday until the dispute is resolved.

For Further information contact Barckley Sumner on 0780 2329235 or Harry Frew on 0789 4414612

Harry Frew is available for interview