North Lanarkshire UNISON members in schools are to strike for five days next month in a row over pay.
On Monday, October 25, local government unions issued notice of industrial action to local authorities across Scotland in a dispute over pay for council workers.
UNISON then notified North Lanarkshire Council (NLC) that its members in catering, cleaning and janitorial departments in schools will take strike action from Monday, November 5, to Friday, November 12.
Marie Quigley from the union told Lanarkshire Live : “Our members have had below inflation pay rises for years.
“The employer’s current offer is a slap in the face for people who have worked to keep our communities safe for the last 18 months with not even a hint of thanks or recognition.”
The Joint Trade Unions have between them mandates to take action in half of Scotland’s local authority areas.
On Monday they notified COSLA that they have served notices to those authorities that they will be calling out members employer in school cleaning, school catering, school janitorial, waste, recycling and fleet maintenance services from November 8 to 12.
The Joint Trade Unions have also written to the Cabinet Secretary for finance, local government and education calling on them to intervene saying that it is not credible for the Scottish Government to wash their hands of local government workers by arguing technicalities of the bargaining machinery.
Johanna Baxter, UNISON Scotland head of local government, said: “It is the combined failure of both COSLA and the Scottish government to reward these key workers that has led to the situation where we have now been forced to issue notice of targeted strike action.
“Our members are at breaking point and are worth more than what is on offer.
“It is deeply regrettable that they should have to withdraw their labour for the employer to recognise their worth.
“Over 55 per cent of local government workers earn below £25,000 per year, and the vast majority have received no reward at all for their efforts during the COVID pandemic.
“The current offer does not even bring the lowest paid local government workers up to £10 per hour.”
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