Care Staff To Hold Dispute Talks

Social care staff in Glasgow are due to discuss what steps to take in a dispute with the city council over job-grading. Strike action planned for Monday was postponed until Unison union officials could meet with workers.

The union now claims that the local authority has also threatened to use anti-trade union laws to oppose its action, involving about 600 staff.

But Glasgow City Council has dismissed this and stressed it wanted a “fair settlement”.

The affected workers manage the cases for children at risk, vulnerable adults and offenders and are accountable to the children’s panel, courts and formal community care reviews.

It is claimed that a council pay and grading review has downgraded their jobs and left many facing a loss of £1,000 a year.

Ronnie Stevenson, Unison’s Glasgow convener of social work stewards, said: “Instead of rushing to the negotiating table, the council have rushed to the courts to use the anti-trade union laws.

“At the eleventh hour they threaten to force staff to choose between striking or taking no action by legally challenging any action short of strike.”

Last week a council spokesman said: “We want a fair settlement for staff to help us deliver high quality, value-for-money services to some of Glasgow’s most vulnerable people.”