Council workers in one-day strike

The strike notice at Stirling Council's Springkerse depot

About 5,000 trade workers in a number of councils across Scotland are staging a one-day walkout in a row over pay.

The Unite union said craft workers such as electricians and plasterers and plumbers said they were forced to work longer hours than council colleagues.

Staff in Glasgow, Dundee, Edinburgh, Fife, and North & South Lanarkshire are among those taking strike action, which could be repeated every two weeks.

The employers' organisation, Cosla, said the action was "unfortunate".

Unite said it rejected the offer of 2.45% because it claimed other workers for Scottish local authorities received more.

I think it's very unfortunate. I think it will hit people who need local authority services. Joe Di Paola Cosla

The union also said its members worked 39 hours, while other local authority employees worked a 37-hour week.

After Monday's action there are plans for more 24-hour stoppages every second Monday.

Five years ago, other council staff in Scotland had their hours reduced from 39 to 37 without any loss of pay.

The workers who are on strike maintain council properties including, schools, houses and public buildings.

Unite national officer John Allott said his members had been "treated with contempt by Scottish local government employers".

He said: "I hope employers will see sense and come back to the negotiating table so that further planned industrial action can be avoided."

Joe Di Paola, of the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (Cosla), told BBC Scotland: "The fact of the matter is that some years ago we reached an agreement with the vast majority of workers in local government and we reduced the standard working week to 37 hours.

"The craft colleagues had an opportunity to join in at that time and chose not to do so.

"We have certainly offered them the opportunity to come into the big group and have their hours reduced. They have rejected that so far.

"I think it's very unfortunate. I think it will hit people who need local authority services.

"I don't think there is a huge appetite for this action."

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