 Pay
Update 24th Sept 2008
Services grind to a halt as members respond
magnificently to the call to action
A further day of action took place on Wednesday 24th Sept, to take
forward our campaign for a decent pay rise and a decent wage for
all our members. Last months council service disruption was repeated
after employers failed to improve the pay offer.
 The
branch would like to thank all our members who took a further day
of strike action in support of a decent pay offer, especially for
our low paid members.
 Members
picketed workplaces across Aberdeenshire. There were pickets at
Gordon House, Inverurie Academy and North Street, Inverurie, at
the Home Care office in Ellon, at Meldrum Academy, in Kemnay, at
Banchory Council offices, at Woodhill House, Aberdeen and at Carlton
House, Stonehaven.
>>>>click
here for photo gallery
At the earliest picket, which began at 5.45am, non-union staff
refused to cross a UNISON and GMB picket at Inverurie Academy, ensuring
the school became one of the 37 that was closed or partially closed
to pupils.
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 A
rally held in Aberdeen heard of the success of the strike not just
in the North East but across Scotland. John Keggie congratulated
union members on their willingness to take action for a second day.
He told the rally that he knew how hard it was for council workers
to go on strike. "I know that you would rather be doing what
you do best, providing services to the people of the North East.
It is a measure of your anger and frustration at the employers'
failure to offer one penny more on the pay offer that has brought
you out again.
"We need more than 2.5%. We need a decent pay increase and
not a pay cut," said John.
 Alison
Law, home carer, gave a rousing speech when she told the rally that
with the huge hikes we have seen in the cost of everyday living,
it is plain to see that the meager offer of 2.5% is not enough.
"Of all the recent increases it is the rise in food prices
that will affect every single person here. The recent figures show
that an average family now has to spend over £1000 more a
year on food bills alone. On the current offer, the pay rise for
a low paid, part-time worker will be around £150 per year.
This will be wiped out by inflation," she said.
 Alison
slammed a local newspaper, "which will be nameless" for
writing that the strike action will hit children and the vulnerable.
"Well we are here to tell the paper that the vulnerable are
not at risk. Our members have been exempted from striking to make
sure they are not at risk. And although children's education IS
important, so is the well-being of every person who works with them.
There is nothing more unsettling than unhappy workers, who don't
feel they are valued by their employer."
"I bet whoever wrote that comment is not on £6.74 an
hour. They should get their facts straight before they attack council
workers," she said to thunderous applause.
Click here for the Strike
Photo Gallery
Click
here for news and pics of the day of action in Aberdeenshire on
picasa
Click
here for more news, pics and videos of the day of action from across
Scotland.
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