The Socialist 25 October 2007

Public health not private wealth

Join the 3 November NHS demonstration

NHS: What the Socialist Party says

March to save the NHS

Michael Moore's latest film 'Sicko' reviewed

Huddersfield SOS: Class fighters' bold initiative

Reject Royal Mail deal: Vote 'No' and reinstate the action

Striking Liverpool postal workers return to work

Why workers need a new party

Respect in crisis - what lessons for socialists?

Socialism 2007

Pakistan: Suicide bombings at Bhutto rally

Turkey's invasion threat increases regional instability

Release Saburi Akande Akinola, Taiwo Hassan Soweto and Olatunde Dairo now

France: Biggest public transport strike action since 1995

Do women still have the 'right to choose'?

Liberal Democrat leadership: Two candidates, one background, no answers

Classroom assistants challenge the Stormont Assembly

Who's to blame for teenage obesity?

Glasgow: On strike for a fair deal

Train drivers prepare for action

Fight Cadbury's factory closure

Teachers' union election – time to change!

BBC threatens hundreds of jobs

Previous issues, etc

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Glasgow: On strike for a fair deal

Workers in Glasgow's Learning Disability and Physical Disability day care services have been on indefinite strike action from 16 October. 84% of members voted to take strike action in the recent ballot. The strike involves over 250 Unison members across 12 centres.

Brian Smith, Unison social work services secretary

The dispute centres on the implementation of the Single Status Agreement. The workers have been allocated to the wrong role profiles/grades under the council's Workforce Pay and Benefits Review.

The council have failed to recognise the valuable job these workers undertake with some of the most vulnerable members in our society. They had the opportunity to correct their mistake at the review hearings but they failed to take it.

The council have offered to resolve the dispute through a service reform that would alter the remits of most workers and halve the number of centres.

The council claim this will allow them to increase community based provision by altering the structure of the workforce whist at the same time offering all workers in pay detriment either new posts at a new higher grade, new jobs out with daycare services or voluntary redundancy.

The council's offer is short on detail and the workers want a fair role profile that reflects what they currently do. So it was decided at the last members' meeting to continue with the strike action as planned.

Positive links were made with carers' organisations and service users in the run-up to the strike. This will be important, as the council attempt to drive a wedge between the workers and those who rely on the services.

Unison members are not opposed to changes that aim to improve support for service users. But delivering a fair grading for the workforce should be the foundation for this.

Over the last year the Unison branch has won several important concessions from the council by threatening or taking strike action. Whilst each dispute is different it is clear that another success can be achieved if members stand together.

Messages of support and donations to Glasgow Unison, 18 Albion St, Glasgow. Email is [email protected]

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Public health not private wealth