Scotland
Glasgow mechanics strike solidarity
On Tuesday, nine mechanics walked out on official strike after failing to agree to a pre-Christmas pay deal, over 50 other workers refused to cross picket lines.
The BBC reported that sixteen mechanics and 40 cleansing drivers also came out in 'wildcat' support, disrupting refuse collections.
Glasgow City Council attempted to brand the strike "unofficial and illegal."
Washing Machine Misery
GLASGOW: Tenants in high flats across Glasgow have been left without working washing machines.
To do a wash, their machines have to be filled by hand with water. Glasgow Housing Association know about the problem, and know how to fix it. But shockingly, GHA are stalling with the fixes.
Student nurse Alice is a tenant in the Cedar Court high flats. She was left for more than a year without a working washing machine.
“I am required to have a cleanly washed uniform for every shift for infection control.”
“That means I’m constantly running a washing load”
Glasgow Day Care workers' Strike enters 8th week
A strike by around 270 Day Care Workers in Glasgow is entering its 8th week. It is based around issues of pay and grading.
The day care workers are employed in ten centres across Glasgow offering support and care to people with a physical and learning disability. Their day to day work involves supporting a wide range of people, from those with a mild learning disability who need help accessing community resources and employment, to those with complex needs who require a high level of care.
Independent report into ICL plastics disaster finds health and safety regime 'dangerously dysfunctional'
On 11 May 2004, nine workers were killed and more than thirty-three injured in an explosion at the ICL Plastics plant of Grovepark Mills in Maryhill, Glasgow. This was the worst health and safety incident in Scotland since 1988. An independent study into the health and safety regime at the factory before the explosion has today been released.
On sentencing ICL Plastics Ltd and ICL Tech Ltd to fines of £200,000 on 28th August 2007, Lord Brodie stated the following in relation to mitigating factors:
"This is not a case of failure to heed warnings or where a decision was taken to run a risk in order to save money. The companies apparently have a good safety record prior to May 2004, going back to the 1960’s."
Edinburgh council workers to strike
Council services across Edinburgh are set to grind to a halt after workers voted overwhelmingly in favour of a one-day strike.
The industrial action is set to take place next Thursday, and union leaders said today it will affect services "right across the board". About 8000 Unison members have voted by more than two-to-one in favour of the walk-out in protest at cuts and possible redundancies.
Royal Mail: Wildcat strikes spread as post piles up
Wildcat stoppages at Royal Mail offices in Scotland have now spread to thirteen offices. Meanwhile 200 million items of post are now undelivered, and official strikes and further ballots continue.
Thousands of workers at Glasgow mail centre were on an unofficial strike when thirteen drivers who refused to cross the picket line of the official strike at Edinburgh airport were suspended.
Glasgow: 5,000 postal workers in unofficial action
During the ongoing rolling strikes over pay and conditions, thousands of postal workers launched a wildcat strike in support of colleagues who were suspended.
Thirteen workers who had refused to cross a picket line at Edinburgh airport were sent home, and up to 5,000 colleagues walked out in support. The CWU said a deal was offered to bosses which would have averted the unofficial action but it was rejected. The strike began at Glasgow Mail Centre at midnight last night, followed by delivery offices shortly afterwards.
Scotland: Airport workers to strike over 2% pay offer
After a 2% pay offer - 2.5% pay cut against inflation - fire-fighters and engineering staff in Highland airports in the T&G (Unite) union have decided to strike from July 30.
Starting July 30 a succession of 24hr strikes every week will affect airports across the Highlands and Islands from the largest in Inverness, which is expected to deal with several thousand holiday-makers and travellers at its most busiest time, to smaller airports in "Barra, Benbecula, Campbeltown, Islay, Kirkwall, Stornoway, Sumburgh, Tiree and Wick".
Scottish dock workers ballot for strike action
After a wildcat strike last month, 1200 workers at Rosyth Royal Dockyard have announced they are to ballot on industrial action in their dispute over pensions.
Shop stewards for the four main unions at the yard decided to request the ballot on Wednesday 11 July. The result will be declared on 25 July.
Workers will be asked to vote on whether to back strike action and action short of a strike, with a strong recommendation from shop stewards to vote yes on both counts.
Scotland: Dockers strike over pensions
Hundreds of workers at Rosyth naval dockyard in Fife yesterday ignored the pleas of union officials and walked out in a row over pension cuts
The Daily Record reported that more than 600 workers - almost all those in the yard at the time-took part in the wildcat strike.
They are furious at changes to their pension scheme.
Babcock International, who run the yard, have told workers they will have to pay more into the scheme but will receive smaller pensions when they retire.
