Cycling World Championships ‘under threat’ due to poor council pay

Around 70 Unite members' employed by Glasgow Life at the Emirates Arena and Unite members' employed by City Parking have voted to take industrial action.

They are the first of potentially thousands of Unite members' across Local Government taking action in response to the ‘poor’ pay offer from COSLA (Convention of Scottish Local Authorities) with Unite members' in schools also being balloted for action.

With 100 per cent of workers in City Parking and 91.67 per cent at the Emirates Arena voting to take industrial action, the first day of action would take place on the 3rd of August, which coincides with the beginning of the UCI Cycling World Championship in Glasgow.

Unite have warned that unless gears are set in motion to reopen negotiations, poor pay could directly impact the operation at the Emirates and see the venue closed on the opening day of the event. Unite City Parking wardens would also impact the event, as traffic enforcement is necessary to keep roads clear and safe for road cyclists. The only ticket to resolve this is to end poor pay for Local Authority workers.

Unite General Secretary, Sharon Graham, said: “City Parking and Glasgow Life workers have delivered a clear mandate that they are willing to stand up for workers across Scotland’s Councils. They all deserve a fair pay award.”

“The 5 per cent on the table is nowhere near our members' needs or expectations. They have voted previously to reject this offer by 84 per cent, yet these warnings were ignored by COSLA who refused to engage in further talks.”

“Refused this voice by COSLA, our members' are now talking with their feet, and they have Unite’s full support in their fight for better jobs, pay and conditions.”  

Unite Scotland’s Industrial Officer, Graham McNab, said: “This is a clear warning to COSLA. Their 5 per cent offer fails on so many fronts, but worst of all is it fails those who are the lowest paid in Local Authorities. We hoped the lessons of last year would have been learned, but they are being repeated.”

“Just like last year, we are calling on the Scottish Government to get involved now to assist getting COSLA back around the table with a new, meaningful offer before more workers vote to take action.”

“This is the reality on the ground with the compounded cost of living and mortgage crisis, workers are at their limits. Unite members' are willing to take action to get what’s best for themselves, and their families, and their co-workers and we will support them.”

Unite members' across schools are also being balloted, with their ballots set to close on the 31st of July.

ENDS