Glasgow City Council workers back strike action in equal pay dispute

A new equal pay dispute looms in Glasgow with council workers voting to back strike action as the local authority is accused of failing to replace its “discriminatory” system.

Just under 98% of GMB union members, including school cleaning and catering staff, backed the plans and said they were prepared to take part in a walk out.

Around 54% of the union’s members took part in the vote.

The move comes amid claims that Glasgow City Council has failed to resolve outstanding equal pay settlements or replace its grading system.

The union said it could mean a fresh wave of equal pay strikes affecting these services from as early as the end of March, with disruption also possible in the run-up to the local authority elections at the beginning of May.

The local authority agreed to pay out at least £500m in 2019 following a long-running equal pay row.

Women claimed they were paid £3 an hour less than men in similarly graded roles after a 2006 pay review aimed at ensuring pay parity.

GMB Scotland organiser Sean Baillie said: “Our members need equal pay justice and an end to the discriminatory pay and grading system that remains in place.

“That’s the clear message this ballot result sends to the council officials who should be negotiating properly with our claimant groups and to every councillor seeking election in May.

“The council’s liabilities are growing every working hour of every working day and the cost will likely run into the hundreds of million yet again, so the situation is critical for our members, the services they deliver, and the city’s finances.

“That’s why we need an urgent negotiation process to be conducted in good faith between the council and the claimant groups, if strike action is to be avoided.”

Glasgow City Council has been asked for comment.