COP26 MEETS CLASS WAR
SUMMIT STRIKES
COP26: When and where will strikes take place in Glasgow during climate change summit?


Harry Williamson
Dan Vevers
15 Oct 2021

A SERIES of strikes are set to cause chaos across Glasgow next month when COP26 begins.

Delegates and world leaders are set to descend on the city next month for the UN climate change conference, but strike action may overshadow the summit.

3The RMT union has warned no trains will be running during COP26Credit: PA

3Binmen in Glasgow have voted to go on strike during the climate conferenceCredit: Kenny Ramsay - The Sun

WILL TRAIN SERVICES BE RUNNING DURING COP26?


Rail workers have voted to go on strike during the climate summit amid an ongoing dispute with ScotRail.

Unions have warned there will be no trains running during the major conference.

It comes as the RMT union turned down an offer of a 4.7 per cent pay rise over two years, saying it was a “lousy, rotten” offer.

ScotRail has said it will try to have some trains running in Glasgow during COP26 and the rail provider is still probing what impact the strike will have.

Ongoing strike action has seen ScotRail services disrupted on Sundays.


WILL BINS BE EMPTIED DURING COP26?

Bin collectors in Glasgow have voted to strike during COP26 amid their dispute with COSLA, which represent Scottish councils.

A total of 96 per cent of Glasgow binmen in the GMB union voted in favour of strike action as they rejected a pay offer of £850-a-year increase for staff earning up to £25,000 a year from COSLA.

Refuse workers under GMB, Unite and Unison are all calling for a £2,000 pay rise.

Union bosses have slammed the underfunding, saying services have been "neglected" and the people who deliver them have been "let down".

'HYPOCRISY'

Gary Smith, leader of the GMB, has called the streets of Glasgow “filthy” and said it was “hypocrisy” for the city to host the climate summit.

ARE SCHOOL STAFF GOING ON STRIKE?

Janitors, cleaners and cooks in Glasgow schools are set to strike amid their own pay dispute.

A total of 97 per cent of GMB members in the city's schools voted to strike during COP26.


Glasgow council bosses said it is “impossible to say” on how the strike action would impact schools and whether they would have to close.

A union boss warned that the Scottish Government could be embarrassed on an “international stage” if the demands of cleansing staff are not met.

COP26: Scots warned there ‘will be ZERO ScotRail trains running’ during Glasgow climate change summit

A total of 600 school staff are joining refuse and rail workers, meaning almost 1,500 Glasgow City Council employees will be on strike during COP26.

Tory local government spokesman Miles Briggs said: “With just weeks to go, there is a real risk that a wave of strikes are going to overshadow the crucial COP26 conference.

“Cuts from both SNP administrations in Holyrood and in Glasgow have meant many vital local services have been neglected and the people who deliver them have been let down.

“It is time for the SNP leadership in Glasgow to step up to the mark and make every effort to resolve this situation.”

Glasgow union organiser Chris Mitchell, said: “The eyes of the world will be on Glasgow during COP26, and our politicians now have a choice.

“Will they fairly reward the frontline workers who got the country through the pandemic, or will they risk embarrassing the city and the country on an international stage?”


A COSLA spokesman said: “We appreciate everything that local government workers have been doing. We continue with ongoing, constructive negotiations.”

Asked if schools might have to close due to the GMB action, a Glasgow City Council spokeswoman said it was “impossible to say what the impact would be”.

But she added: “Holding this action only in Glasgow at this time will have disproportionate and unfair local impact in pursuit of a national campaign. We urge them to think again about the timing of this.”


Scots transport minister Graeme Dey claimed the vote by RMT members to take action was “no longer valid” due to a new and “very fair” pay offer.

Asked by BBC Radio Scotland why ScotRail workers were striking, Mr Dey replied: “I have no idea… you would have to put that question to them.”

He added: “An offer was made, has been made, it’s there and it’s a very fair offer.”

But union bosses hit out at the “lousy, rotten offer” of a 4.7 per cent pay bump over two years, saying that it required “members to sell hard-earned terms and conditions in order to get a pay rise”.


RMT Scotland organiser Michael Hogg said: “This offer is not worthy of consideration, it’s a kick in the teeth to workers.”

The Scottish Government has been contacted for comment.

Cooks and janitors in Glasgow schools will also go on strike during the climate summit

Credit: Alamy