UNISON members at Glasgow Caledonian University are taking strike action on Monday 6 February, beginning a week of industrial action over pay.
Night shift security staff will start the industrial action with a midnight walkout on Sunday night and will be accompanied by a bag piper as they leave the university campus.
UNISON are taking co-ordinated action after members rejected a pay offer which is significantly below the rate of inflation. Last year (2022/23) employers imposed a 3% pay offer, inflation is over 10%. While pay offers are weighted towards the lowest paid UNISON say they fall far short of protecting workers from the cost of living crisis.
Unless university employers get back around the table, UNISON are set to take further strike action over coming weeks in other Scottish universities too.
Davena speaking to strikers outside GCU gates at midnight
UNISON Glasgow Caledonian branch secretary, Davena Rankin said: “Glasgow Caledonian University relies on the hard work of staff to keep the campus safe and secure, support students and deliver the best student experience. Yet the university is happy to impose a real terms pay cut, significantly below the rate of inflation. Staff need a decent pay rise to get through the cost-of-living crisis and employers must get back to the negotiation table to look at pay again.”
UNISON regional organiser, Lorcan Mullen said: “UNISON members at Glasgow Caledonian University are taking courageous action for fair pay. While the employer has made local concessions in response to strike action, we are a long way apart on pay. This action is part of a new wave of strikes across the University sector involving multiple unions. We urge university leaders to step up and offer decent pay increases to resolve this long-running dispute.”
UNISON are taking co-ordinated action after members rejected a pay offer which is significantly below the rate of inflation. Last year (2022/23) employers imposed a 3% pay offer, inflation is over 10%. While pay offers are weighted towards the lowest paid UNISON say they fall far short of protecting workers from the cost of living crisis.
