Industrial action takes its toll in Ayrshire

Aug 29 2008

VITAL council services ground to a halt as workers spent the day on picket lines demanding fair pay.

Schools kids were given an extra day off, refuse collections were abandoned and community centres, libraries and museums all closed as around 4000 employees of South Ayrshire council took part in the industrial action. They are furious that they will effectively be given a pay cut if local authority bosses have their way.

COSLA, the governing body of councils in Scotland, have offered employees a 2.5 per cent pay increase for the next three years – despite the fact inflation is currently sitting at over four per cent.

And union chiefs say COSLA are refusing to sit down and thrash out a deal or come to a compromise.

Frank Minnery, regional organiser of GMB Scotland, said: “The offer they have given is derisory at best. The Bank of England are predicting inflation will hit seven per cent by the end of the year and some household bills are spiralling out of control.

“We wrote to COSLA to ask them to sit down and talk about this. We would be willing to negotiate a one-year pay deal and see how inflation is at the end of the year.

“But they didn’t respond so we are left with no other course of action.”

And Frank said that union members’ hands are tied: “All we can do is apologise to people this affects.

“We have a lot of public support.

“For any disruption caused to the public we are truly sorry, but it’s the only thing we can do.”

As well as GMB, members of UNISON and UNITE also took part in the one day strike last Wednesday.

It is hoped COSLA will now agree to negotiate a fairer pay deal with their employees.