THE trade union movement took Scotland by storm in 2023, with more disputes attracting public attention, and more branches showing the strength of collective action.
As a new year begins, we decided to take a look at some of the biggest moments and successes in the trade union movement over the last 12 months.
1. RMT dispute resolved
Starting off strong, the 18-month-long dispute between the Rail Maritime and Transport (RMT) union and the government finally reached a resolution at the end of November.
Members voted overwhelmingly to end the dispute over pay and working conditions, which saw train strikes happen across the country.
The dispute sparked a revival in media reporting on trade union news, as RMT general secretary Mick Lynch (below) became a recognisable face of the trade union movement.
“We will be negotiating further with the train operators over reforms they want to see, and we will never shy away from vigorously defending our members’ terms and conditions, now or in the future.
“This campaign shows that sustained strike action and unity gets results and our members should be proud of the role they have played in securing this deal.”
2. An end to industrial action in Scotland’s schools
School strikes across Scotland came to an end as three unions voted to accept a new pay offer.
Workers represented by the Unison, GMB and Unite trade unions all took part in industrial action.
Unite and GMB members voted to accept a new pay deal, whilst Unison members continued to strike until a new deal was reached with local government body Cosla.
The offer accepted by Unison had various improvements on previous rejected offers, including a timetable for all local government staff to be paid a minimum of £15 per hour by 2025 and the full deal being backdated to April 2023.
Unison Scotland’s head of local government, Johanna Baxter (below) said: “This deal is long overdue and was hard fought for by Unison members.
3. Union challenges cuts to modern languages department
The modern languages department at Aberdeen University has faced threats of being axed by senior management.
Yet members of the University College Union (UCU) have been at the forefront of challenging the proposals, holding a rally to show their support for staff and students at risk as a result of the cuts.
This means that around half of staff remain at risk of redundancy, as a consultation is ongoing into the future of the department.
The work of UCU is far from over here - but it remains clear that workers have played a huge role in saving the language’s department, which includes the provision of Gaelic.
4. No redundancies at City of Glasgow College
A dispute which began over compulsory redundancies, cuts to teaching time, workload increases and the ending of fixed term contracts was resolved at the City of Glasgow College in December.
The deal means that no compulsory redundancies will take place, and staff who were previously made redundant will be offered the opportunity to return or to receive voluntary severance.
Commenting, EIS general secretary Andrea Bradley said: “It has been a long and difficult struggle which has taken its toll on lecturers and students alike, but it was a price worth paying to fight job and course cuts and to protect education for today’s and tomorrow’s students at the college.”
5. Landmark union agreement in hospitality sector
The Stand Comedy club in Edinburgh signed a voluntary recognition agreement with Unite, the first of its kind in the hospitality sector.
A voluntary recognition agreement is when a union reaches out to an employer to be recognised.
This means that, if agreed, the employer must listen to any concerns raised by the union and must engage with union workers in discussions around working conditions.
One staff member working in the Edinburgh club praised the agreement, adding that they were “thankful to be able to champion the voices of the staff from within the company”, and that “the terms of our contracts reflect the industry’s best practices”.
Commenting on the agreement, The Stand’s managing director Mike Jones said: “The Stand has always been a pro-union employer.
“We’re pleased to become the first live entertainment venue to enter into a voluntary recognition agreement with Unite, formalising our relationship and establishing a framework for partnership going forward.
“It will ensure that the staff will continue to benefit from the best terms and conditions in the hospitality sector.”
