After a 2 month strike by Glasgow City Council
Day Care workers, the City’s grave diggers are the latest group of workers who
have been forced to strike following the Council’s refusal to have meaningful
talks with the GMB union who represent the workers. The strike action – not
taken lightly – is in response to the ‘modernisation’ programme forced on the
grave yard workforce which will see them lose up to £2,000 a year in pay.
The strikes are scheduled to begin on Christmas eve and take in December 26th,
29th and 31st, as well as January 2nd, 3rd and 5th, and will affect the 32
grave yards in the city. The cemeteries staff will operate a policy of no
overtime on the other days.
It was this ‘modernisation’ programme which saw the Day Care centre’s shut for
2 months. Glasgow City Council’s determination to decrease wages to workers of
such desperately needed services along with the round of cuts ordered by the
SNP at the Scottish parliament has forced another section of its workforce to
take action to defend jobs and services. With the Thatcher era’s anti-trade
union laws still in place, this means the grave yard workers have been forced
into ballot after ballot and supposed talks with the council before having to
hold another ballot to take action, while the council was kept fully informed
at every stage of the developments. Glasgow Council seem hellbent on taking
their workforce to the brink in every matter.
The workers union, the GMB, said:"The grave diggers are very aware this is
a sensitive issue. They deeply regret any sorrow this may cause, but the
workers have been forced into taking this action to protect working
conditions." (GMB website).
