Last month saw over 600 Glasgow social care workers won an inspirational victory against attacks on wages and conditions following 20 days of all out, indefinite strike action.
Workers have won an upgrade to their job status, which translates into a new wage rate of £24, 200, even for workers without any formal qualifications. This rate is higher than that which some local authorities start qualified social workers on.
The new “pay hike” means an instant increase of between £1,000 and £2,400 in the wages of almost 400 workers immediately. The remaining 200 workers who were on “protected” wages, as part of a pay and benefits review, will now have their pay consolidated. This clear victory demonstrates that industrial action can win real benefits for workers and their families.
UNISON members were clear on their demands. Clear communication was established between the UNISON branch and stewards’ committee and members. E-mails, postal mailings, the branch’s website and a daily “strike organising committee” were all used to reliably ensure that all strikers were kept up to date and well informed.
The daily “strike organising committee” meetings at 11am were used to organise activity for those union members who wanted to do more to help the strike. Street collections, lobbies of the council, assistance at picket lines, publicity work and all manner of activity were organised by the “strike organising committee”. One of the most concrete examples of sympathy and support for the strikers was the thousands of pounds collected from organised street collections.
Twice weekly mass meetings were organised. These meetings were crucial, they allowed strikers from all over Glasgow to meet and share picket line stories, and they created an understandable boost in the striker’s morale and solidarity.
The International Socialists, the Scottish counterpart of the Socialist Party, played a particularly important role. Two International Socialist members were part of the four- person negotiating team and played important roles in the mass meetings.
