Warning of more strikes in Caithness if pensions deal not sealed
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PUBLIC sector workers in Caithness this week said that more strikes will take place unless agreement can be reached on the UK Government’s controversial plans to cut their pensions.
The warning came as local trade union members joined Wednesday’s national day of action which closed schools and disrupted council, hospital and court services in the Far North.
Robert Bailey – one of a group of health workers who protested outside Caithness General Hospital in Wick – claimed the poor and those on low wages are paying the price for the economic recession.
Mr Bailey, who is a domestic supervisor, told the John O’Groat Journal he was taking part in the biggest national strike for many years to register his opposition to the Government’s pension plans.
But he stressed he was also taking action for those unable to join the picket line and for his children, as he does not want them “to have to work until they drop”.
Mr Bailey said things will “get worse in the next couple of years” and predicted more strikes in the public sector.
He did not want to inconvenience the public but felt action had to be taken to show how staff members feel about the issue.
“Patients always come first. We have not stopped anyone going in here or supplies going in. We do care,” stated Mr Bailey, who argued that it was the politicians and bankers who caused the recession and “not the people who are going to pay for it in the end”.
He said support from the public had been good with motorists tooting their horns as they passed and people offering them cups of tea.
“They understand the position. We are doing it for them as well. I hope there will be no further action but I think there will have to be,” added Mr Bailey.
Drew Macleod, the head porter at Caithness General, voted for the strike as he feels the UK Government is “cutting back the public sector to fund the bankers”. He is concerned about the pension cuts for current staff and for those who plan to join the public sector in future years.
“I don’t think this one day will achieve that much. I think we will need a series of days like this to make an impression on the Government. I think there will be more action,” said Mr Macleod on Wednesday morning.
He pointed out that the strike would not impact on emergency, renal and other vital services. “No-one would do anything to jeopardise that,” he said.
He anticipated a good response to the day of action. “Even colleagues of mine who are not in the union are supporting us. They understand the position and even the non-union ones said they would not cross the picket line,” added Mr Mac-leod. Sue Cox, who works in the Wick Medical Centre, said: “None of us would choose to go out on strike. We are not taking this action easily but are doing so to show our strength of feeling.
“The Government has had no proper meeting with union leaders since November 2. Something has to be done to illustrate how we feel.”
Public and Commercial Services Union representative Allan Tait said the day of action was the best supported in many years at the local tax office and job centre at Girnigoe Street in Wick.
“No staff were in at the tax office and only a skeleton staff were in at the job centre. That level of support shows the anger of the public sector who are being expected to work longer and pay more in order to receive a smaller pension,” he said. “The coalition Government is effectively imposing a tax on public-sector workers to pay for the mess made by the bankers and the Government’s failed economic strategy.”
Pickets were also out in other parts of Caithness, including North Highland ?College in Thurso.
Widespread support for action
1: All schools in the Highland area, including Caithness, were closed to pupils but some stayed open so teachers who did not wish to join the day of action could work as normal.
2: Most teachers in the Highlands took part in the protest, said EIS local association secretary, Andrew Stewart. "Over 2000 teachers throughout the area took part and around 500 trade unionists joined a rally in Inverness."
3: Council services throughout the North were affected by the action, according to a local authority spokeswoman. Wick service point was closed. The office in Thurso was open but had fewer staff on duty.4: The sheriff clerk’s office ay Wick Sheriff Court was closed.
5: Elaine Mead, chief executive for NHS Highland, said: "As expected, there was picketing across many of our sites. I am grateful to trade union colleagues for their co-operation to allow safe services to be provided and for picket lines to be conducted appropriately."6: Over 300,000 people were estimated to have taken part in the day of action in Scotland and around two million in the UK.
