Cycling Championship Chaos As GMB Plan Parking Protest
“On Yer Bike” – Cycling Championship Chaos As GMB Plan Parking Protest
Trade union, GMB Scotland, have today served notice to ballot parking services in Glasgow and Velodrome workers for industrial action during the 2023 World Cycling Championships.
If successful, the Championships will face city-wide disruption with cars blocking streets for road events and Velodrome events unable to go ahead due to strike action.
The move comes after GMB Scotland began balloting 8,000 of its local government members working in schools and early years settings for strike action on 12 June – including cleaning, catering, janitorial, pupil support assistants and early years practitioners.
94% of GMB Scotland’s over 20,000 members rejected the 5.5% offer when inflation is almost double that and the offer is below that offered in England and Wales.
GMB Scotland Senior Organiser for Public Services, Keir Greenaway said:
“Our members on the frontline of our local, public services are being offered a pay cut during the cost-of-living crisis whilst council leaders want to parade around during the World Cycling Championships.
“If Councillors want to bring a first-class event to the city, they can’t give our members a second class pay offer. They need to get on their bike and ask Scottish Ministers for support to deliver a pay offer that values frontline council workers.
“Despite 94% of our members resoundingly rejecting the pay offer, COSLA have made little attempt to continue negotiations and council leaders are refusing to ask for Scottish Government intervention. These negotiations are going nowhere and are forcing council workers to face soaring inflation without the pay increase they deserve.
“GMB Scotland has been clear: our members need an improved offer which can only be achieved through the intervention of Scottish Government. Otherwise strike action is inevitable and any disruption to this global event will only further highlight the importance of the local government workforce.”
ENDS
Contact: Keir Greenaway, GMB Scotland Senior Organiser for Public Services, on 07855 017842 or GMB Scotland Communications: gmbscotcampaigns@gmb.org.uk
