Strike threat wins Glasgow residential workers dispute

All 900 workers in Glasgow Council's homes for older people and children/young people have won wage increases after threatening to take all-out indefinite strike action without emergency cover.

The excellent strike ballot result was 93% in favour on a 52% turnout. The Council knew that the action would have a devastating impact on services and have agreed to move all workers on to the first pay point of the next grade.

This means immediate increases of between of £829 - £1,582, with progression to the top of the new grades beginning next year but being dependent on a "service modernisation" to be agreed with the trade union over the next three months.

If an agreement is reached on a range of issues by April 2011 the workers will have seen their pay increase by £4,200 - £8,500.

"The workers can be proud of the improvements that they have gained and know that they have the strength to confront the Council again if the circumstances require it. This is the latest example of workers in Glasgow Council, and in particular within Social Work Services, winning improvements in pay by threatening or actually taking industrial action", said a Glasgow Branch spokesperson.

"It shows once again that workers who are organised and are able to deliver industrial action win the most from their employer."

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