West Dunbartonshire Council strike hailed a success

Oct 3 2008 by Amanda McKendrick, Lennox Herald (main ed)

UNIONS are hailing a one day strike over a “paltry” pay offer a complete success – and are already planning their next action.

But council bosses claim there was minimal disruption.

Leisure centres, libraries, cemeteries and council offices across West Dunbartonshire were closed last Wednesday as staff walked out for the second time, in protest at a national 2.5 per cent pay offer.

The council decided to keep primary and secondary schools open for upper pupils but admitted that attendance was down “as parents chose to keep children at home”.

While most teachers did go into work, some at Vale of Leven Academy refused to cross a picket line where the school’s janitorial and catering staff gathered to demonstrate.

The protest is also believed to have caused disruption to construction work on the new academy which is being built alongside the present school.

Agency staff were brought in to keep nursing homes open, but the move angered unions, who have vowed to lodge a complaint with the agencies.

Staff at Willox Park and Dalreoch care homes held placards warning agency workers they could be fined up to £5000 for stepping in when there was an industrial dispute.

Mick Conroy, of the GMB union, said: “We had well over 90 per cent of our members on strike, including staff from social work, cleansing, parks and cemeteries.

“Despite what the council may say, we believe we inflicted problems on services.

“We had a very good response from members of the public who were actually hugging staff on some picket lines.”

Julie McGregor, a Dalreoch care home worker and GMB steward, said: “We allowed managers to cross the picket line to provide life and limb cover for the residents but asked agency workers who had never worked in the home not to.

“Nurses and families didn’t want to walk through the picket line but we also allowed them to do so.

“Staff are willing to get out on the picket line again.”

Unions are believed to be considering further prolonged action in the week beginning Monday, October 6.

A council spokeswoman said: “The council is dismayed by aggressive picketing at a few local schools, which caused unnecessary distress to some pupils, parents, and contractors. This matter is currently being investigated.

“Although some members of school staff were unavailable for work because of industrial action, all members of the teaching staff, as advised by the teachers unions, were expected to attend as normal. A very small number of teachers at one school ignored their union's advice and made the decision not to cross the picket line. This matter is also is being looked into.”

The spokeswoman insisted that the agency staff in attendance at two care homes were already working in council homes and had not been hired to undermine the strike.