The STUC supported employees of Mackinnon of Scotland in Coatbridge when officials joined the picket on Monday 16 and Wednesday 18 of October.
Mackinnon of Scotland who produce garments for a number of well known companies, including Ryder Cup clothing firm Glenmuir, are refusing to discuss a wage increase with their workers. Willie Paterson, Community Scottish Regional Secretary the union that represent 95% of the 130 workers said 'Our members have no desire to take any industrial action at all. However, they are disgusted that a supposedly reputable company like Edinburgh Woollen Mills is acting in such a way. They are being asked to accept a pay freeze, which - when you take into account inflation and particularly increases in Council Tax - mean that they would be effectively have to take a cut in income. All we want is for Edinburgh Woollen Mills to sit down and make a decent pay offer - our members aren't looking for a king's ransom. 'Edinburgh Woollen Mills claim that Mackinnon of Scotland is loss-making, but since the main customer of the mill is Edinburgh Woollen Mills itself and its other sister companies. This is merely an accounting sham. It is ironic, to say the least, that while hard-working, highly-skilled woollen workers - most of whom are women - are being forced into industrial action to have a decent standard of living, some of the richest sportsmen in the world will be playing in the Ryder Cup very probably in clothes that the workers have produced'. During the time the STUC were at the picket line there was fantastic support for the action from members of the public and the pickets successfully turned back delivery lorries to the factory. The STUC will continue to support Community and the Mackinnon of Scotland workforce in their fight for a fair wage increase.