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Workers win £4bn through industrial action

Ahead of a major trade union conference this Saturday, the STUC reveals workers in Scotland have won more than £4 billion in pay and pensions during the cost-of-living crisis.

Research from the Scottish Trades Union Congress (STUC) has revealed that workers throughout Scotland have secured more than £4 billion in pay and pensions settlements in the past 18 months of industrial disputes. The STUC further reveal that had trade unions accepted employers’ initial offers they would have been £3 billion worse off, highlighting that balloting and taking industrial action has secured an extra £3 billion in uplifts into workers’ pockets.

Last month, the University and College Union won around £1.9 billion for workers in Scotland, after University employers offered to fully restore the value of the UK's largest private pension fund, following 69 days of strike action.

Meanwhile, UNISON, GMB and Unite the Union have negotiated a deal worth almost £500m for local government workers – £100 million of which was the direct result of balloting or taking strike action. This comes on top of 2022-23 pay settlements in health, education, local government, the fire service, transport, and telecoms worth £2 billion – £1.1 billion of which was in uplifts over and above the first offer from the employers.

The STUC, Scotland’s largest trade union body, called the figures a “stunning indication of worker power”.

The news comes days after the Tory Government announced attacks on the right to strike through minimum service legislation.

The STUC are host a conference this Saturday to learn the lessons from the recent strike wave. From trade union leaders to reps on the ground, the conference will bring together trade unionists across the country who have balloted, stood on picket lines, and won millions of pounds for workers in the last eighteen months.

Commenting, STUC General Secretary Roz Foyer said:

“This is a testament to the determination and resolve of workers across Scotland who’ve stood up and said enough is enough. Unions across Scotland have scored a mighty victory for their members, securing over £4 billion in pay and pensions settlements, three-quarters of which is a direct result of balloting or undertaking industrial action.

“I am proud of every single worker who has stood shoulder to shoulder on the picket lines, fighting and winning for their unions and showing a stunning indication of worker power. Our collective strength is a force to be reckoned with but with the Tory government attacking the right to strike, this is no time to rest on our laurels.

“Politicians, governments and employers should be in no doubt that the STUC will leave no worker behind. Saturday’s conference is an important milestone to share the lessons we have learned and build our movement for the struggle ahead.”

ENDS

Notes to editors:

The STUC Conference: ‘Strike! A trade union conference to consider the key lessons from the strike wave over the last year and how we build our movement going forward’ can be viewed here.

For more information, please contact Rachel Thomson, Campaigns & Communications Officer, on 07974966227