UNION members who protested outside the office of First Minister John Swinney have been accused of a “political ploy” as they escalated their demands for improved pay.
Unison members staged a protest outside Swinney’s constituency office in Blairgowrie, Perthshire on Thursday as part of strike action targeting the area he represents.
The union was the only one of three to reject an offer which gives non-teaching school staff a pay rise of 67p per hour or 3.6%, whichever is higher. GMB and Unite have both accepted the offer.
The deal has now been implemented for workers, but the union called a strike in the Perth and Kinross area, causing substantial disruption to primary schools and nurseries this week – including closing all facilities on Monday.
About 40 people including children were on the picket line outside his office on Thursday.
Strike action is expected to last for two weeks.
The First Minister – who declared earlier this week that discussions over pay in 2024-25 are “closed” – said he was “deeply disappointed” with the action.
Unison’s targeted action has sparked fury with many accusing members of playing politics.
The Scottish Trade Union Congress (STUC) has, however, said Unison members are "entirely within their right" to strike and is supporting them in doing so.
Veteran SNP MP Pete Wishart said there was “no excuse” for the union’s actions.
He posted on Twitter/X: “There can be no excuse for Unison intensifying this personal political targeting of John Swinney. I share staff with John and they do not deserve this at their work place.”
He added: “The right to protest is a cornerstone of our democracy, but to target Perth and Kinross simply because the First Minister’s constituency falls within it is completely unfair for the parents and children who are bearing the brunt of the strike action.
There can be no excuse for Unison intensifying this personal political targeting of John Swinney. I share staff with John and they do not deserve this at their work place. https://t.co/L44XiQfnbK
— Pete Wishart (@PeteWishart) October 24, 2024
“This is particularly true when the pay deal that was put forward meets the terms that all three trade unions involved in this negotiation had asked for, and which Unite and GMB overwhelmingly accepted.”
Unison's lead for local government David O’Connor reacted to the comments, stating: “These isolated comments are not representative of the many messages of support school staff are receiving from local people in Perth and Kinross.”
Unison Perth and Kinross branch secretary Stuart Hope insisted the First Minister could end the dispute by providing further cash for councils to fund workers’ pay – despite Swinney having already declared there is no more money available.
He insisted staff “prefer to be supporting children” and do not want to strike.
STUC general secretary Roz Foyer (below) said she backed Unison's actions.
"This strike action is not taken lightly nor on a whim," she told The National.
"Local government workers are some of the lowest paid in the public sector with the value of their pay-packet being cut by up to 25% over the past decade. “It’s little wonder therefore, with the aftershocks of inflation, the pandemic and the cost-of-living crisis still impacting low-paid workers more than others, Unison workers have taken this action. “We support them. As the largest union within local government, Unison have an overwhelming mandate from their members to continue with strike action until they achieve a deal that matches that of other public sector workers. “It’s entirely within their right – as is the right of other unions within the same sector – to listen to their membership and act accordingly. The First Minister and Cosla can still resolve this if they come back with an improved offer that values local government workers.”
Former Unison member David Thomson, however, said on social media he was confused by the action members were taking, questioning why they weren’t also protesting outside the office of Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar to put pressure on him over the closure of the Grangemouth oil refinery.
“Does Unison really think that concentrating strike action on John Swinney's constituency will suddenly result in him finding more money?,” said Thomson.
“If anything it will only reaffirm the response 'there is no more money' or risk accusations of his own self-interest. Daft.
“As others have pointed out, why aren't unions protesting outside Sarwar's constituency office to put pressure on him to reverse the decision to close Grangemouth and keep Labour's election promises?”
Thomson added: "I'm appalled at these tactics which might seem clever to the strikers but for those that take a more strategic view, will have the opposite effect. Unison officials must know this and even allowing for the increased media coverage, know that it cannot work."
Others on social media have insisted the actions of Unison have “nothing to do with pay” and their protest is a “grubby political ploy”.
Sarah Halliday, a parent who works at the University of Dundee, shared her frustration over her children being kept out of school.
She said: “For the second time in as many years, my children have now missed a full week of school due to targeted strike action impacting only Perth & Kinross, and it's expected to continue next week.”
Local government body Cosla has urged Unison to reconsider the pay offer.
They said the pay award met the “collective requests of Unison and our other two unions,” adding council leaders had recently agreed to implement it so employees receive the rise “without further delay”.
