Council services hit as Unison members set to strike

Unison members voted to take strike action on Tuesday, October 21, in pursuit of a better pay settlement having been offered a one per cent pay rise by Scottish councils in August.

Unison South Lanarkshire branch secretary, Stephen Smellie, said: “We expect the impact of our strike to be felt across all council services. Our members deliver essential services across all of South Lanarkshire and therefore our action will have a significant effect.”

The union also stated it intended to follow this one day strike with selective and targeted action across all council areas in order to keep pressure on the employers for the next few months.

Public services which will also be affected include those who are run by South Lanarkshire Leisure and Culture including sports centre and halls.

Paul Manning, the council’s Executive Director of Finance and Corporate Resources said: “We are aware of the potential day of industrial action being planned across Scotland by Unison and will take appropriate steps to ensure that essential council services continue to be delivered.”

For more reaction to this story see next week’s Carluke and Lanark Gazette.