Glasgow’s Striking Equal Pay Women Tell Council Chiefs: ‘Are You Listening To Us Now?’

Glasgow’s striking equal pay women tell Council Chiefs: 'Are you listening to us now?'

Thousands of striking women and their families marched on George Square this afternoon (Tuesday 23 October) to demand that Glasgow City Council officials return to negotiations for fair and full equal pay settlements, as forty-eight hours of industrial action across the city got underway.

Picket lines across the city formed, bringing front-line services to a standstill, before a mass march through the city centre from Glasgow Green to George Square was attended by equal pay claimants, council staff, trade unions, claimant representative bodies and the general public.

The strike involves more than 2,900 GMB members who provide round the clock home care for 87,000 service users, as well as cleaning and catering services for schools and amenities across the city.

GMB is now calling for GCC Chief Executive Annemarie O’Donnell to instruct her officials to return to negotiations this Thursday morning and lead the council’s representations personally.

GMB Scotland Organiser Rhea Wolfson said: “Today, the working class women of Glasgow sent out a message to their employer: “Are you listening to us now?”

The council chief executive only needed to look out of her window in the city chambers to realise the inevitable; her officials have to re-engage in negotiations with the women’s’ representatives.

The turnout and togetherness of our women, along with the solidarity of their council colleagues and ordinary Glaswegians, was emotional and inspirational and will ultimately prove historic.

Our women know their value. They are strong and resolute, buoyed by the widespread support from this city which is evident for all to see. 

It’s time for justice and come Thursday morning, we expect this council to wake up out of its complacency and get back round the negotiating table with the joint claimant organisations.”

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Contact: GMB Scotland Communications on 07976447077.