PRESS RELEASE

August 20th, 2008

Time to act over council strikes

 
Local MSP Duncan McNeil called on the government to step in now to avoid a repeat of the strikes that have caused chaos all over Greenock and Inverclyde.

More than 200,000 public sector workers walked out of their posts all over Scotland on Wednesday over a pay dispute.

With more strikes planned, Mr McNeil called on the government to get off the fence and pick up the phone to avoid another damaging day of industrial action.

He said: “The impact of the strike was felt by many people across a range of services, including schools and nurseries but I have great deal of sympathy with the public sector workers and the financial pressures they face at this difficult time.

“There is a deal waiting to be done that could avoid further disruption and loss of wages to already low paid workers but there requires to be action on the part of government to bring the parties together.
 

“It is unreasonable in the uncertain economic climate to ask low-paid public sector staff to sign up for a three-year deal.

“More has to be done for the low paid at a time of rising food and fuel charges and the government have to assist local authorities meet their obligations to their staff.” 

ENDS