West Dunbartonshire care staff snub party in pay protest

Oct 3 2008 Lennox Herald (main ed)

CARE workers nominated for a top council gong plan to boycott its glitzy awards ceremony this Friday in a protest over pay.

Five dedicated members of staff who care for the elderly at Dalreoch House in Dumbarton have been nominated for the ‘Team of the Year Award’ in West Dunbartonshire Council’s annual STAR Awards.

But the workers are so furious that their wages are set to be cut in the single status pay saga that they will snub the bash in Clydebank Town Hall.

A spokeswoman for the Dalreoch House staff said: “It’s a pat on the back one minute, then they are taking our money off us.

“The staff are so angry about the way they have been treated that they are choosing not to go.”

Councillor Martin Rooney, leader of the Labour Group opposition, and Scottish Socialist Party councillor Jim Bollan have both backed the workers in their stance.

Councillor Bollan said: “These staff should be congratulated for taking non-violent direct action to highlight the attack by the council on their standard of living.

“I intend to join a protest being organised outside the awards ceremony to try and convince guests and nominees to boycott the awards ceremony and show solidarity with low-paid workers.”

He added: “I have been advised by another individual nominee that they will also boycott the STAR Awards ceremony due to the SNP council’s imposition of the single status, which will cut this individual’s wages by £70 per week.

“They are having this wage cut forced on them against their will and want to make a personal protest by boycotting these awards.”

It is understood the council’s own catering staff have refused to work at the STAR Awards, but council chiefs insist that the majority were unable to attend because of an event planned with one of their colleagues.

The local authority has now been forced to draft in cooks from Glasgow City Council.

A council spokesman said: “We are dismayed by attempts to disrupt the STAR Awards as part of a protest against the implementation of single status.

“The council believes that this detracts from the achievements of the nominees, and guests, who will be attending the event. This is unacceptable and demoralising for those employees involved.

“The STAR Awards is the culmination of months worth of work and nominations through the STAR scheme and is a formal recognition of the innovation, dedication, professionalism and skill that staff display every day in delivering council services, often beyond the requirement of their role.

“The event is planned and organised by staff for staff and is supported by managers across the council, and local residents, who nominate employees for the outstanding contribution they make to the community.

“The STAR Awards will go ahead as planned. Many nominees consider this achievement, quite rightly, to be a highlight in their career with West Dunbartonshire Council. Every effort will be made to ensure that the evening is a huge success for them.”