Glasgow homelessness caseworkers’ strike

Support rallies behind Glasgow homelessness caseworkers’ strike

Matt Dobson

The indefinite all-out strike of the Glasgow homeless caseworkers is still going strong after over a month. After weeks of trying to ignore the strike and the workers’ case for fair pay, Glasgow’s Labour councillors and management were forced to at least meet Glasgow City Unison on Friday 24 April.

There are reports of the accommodation stockpiled by the council in anticipation of the dispute running out and the service breaking down.

We have seen widespread public support for the strike in Glasgow and across the country.

Strikers in the North East of the city have picketed Barlinnie prison where a handful of caseworkers, GMB members, have stayed at work. This pressured management further.

Prison officers in the POA union stopped at the picket to give support and £340 was collected for the strike fund in one morning. Successful collections have also taken place at other social work offices.

Strikers have been speaking at union rallies and meetings across Scotland and to local community anti-cuts campaigns in the city.

Support

The Socialist spoke to Jenni, a striker from the North West Team, at a Castlemilk Against Austerity gig: “This is my first time on strike and you learn a lot. We need to be really organised as it doesn’t look like management will give in easily.

“We need all the support we can get from workers, trade unions and people in communities.”

Donations have been coming in such as £1,000 from the Mid Yorkshire Health Unison branch committee, where Socialist Party members play a leading role.

Before the talks started, strikers and supporters marched to the council and rallied outside. Jamie Cocozza from Unite subway driver’s branch (in a personal capacity) and Socialist Party Scotland spoke in solidarity.

However the council, it seems, were only using this meeting to test the resolve of strikers. Unison branch secretary Brian Smith reported: “The council just offered an eight week review of the homeless workers case but with no guarantees of fair pay and regrading.”

This was rejected by a strikers’ meeting on 27 April and the strike continues, with a rally on 30 April, 12.30pm at City Chambers.

Please send messages of support, donations and requests for speakers for union branches and events to [email protected]

Cheques to Glasgow City Unison, 84 Bell Street, Glasgow G1 1LQ

Facebook: Glasgow Homeless Caseworkers strike