Dear Colleague,
I want to thank you for the massive support you have shown this week in every conceivable way, from the great attendances at members meetings, to the emails and calls I have received giving support. This includes the Managers and Senior Managers who have shown thei support.
It is clear that now Quarriers have forced us down the road of taking strike action the unity of purpose and solidarity amongst our members is rock solid and that our strike is heading to be a massive success. I particularly want to welcome and thank the many new members that have joined us this week so that they too can join the strike!
I want to give you some key messages:
Pickets
We will run orderly and lawful pickets with a maximum of 6 pickets at any one time. We have asked fellow members to show support as we always do, we have not asked them to join the picket.
Rally & Buses
The major focus of the day is our rally at George Square from 12 until 1. Please try and get there early so you can get your free campaign t-shirt on for the TV cameras. The pickups for the buses are below. If you come under your own steam then there will be a facility to claim expenses on the day. Please get as many members, friends and family there as possible.
Bus 1
AYR
Burns Statue Square 10.15
KILMARNOCK
The Post Office, John Finnie Street. 10.40
Bus 2
ARDROSSAN
Seafield School 10.00
SALTCOATS
Next to the Railway Station 10.15
Bus 3
GREENOCK
The Waterfront Car Park 10.15
All buses will pick up again at George Square, Glasgow at 1.30
If you live outside these areas please make your own way and we will return your train or bus fare.
New members
As long as people join on line or hand a UNISON official a form by the time of the strike they can participate in the strike.
Life & Limb
UNISON has offered on many occasions this week to meet Quarriers to discuss life and limb cover yet they have refused to take up this offer. We have repeatedly said that if they speak to us about Projects where they have concerns about their ability to provide a safe service, we will look at that and exempt people if necessary. UNISON knows that several members have raised with management their concerns, yet management have made no contact with UNISON. If you have raised your concerns then you have done all you can do and if Quarriers don’t respond, this is reckless and dangerous. We are calling all members out on strike as Quarriers have asked us for no exemptions. Please support the call, we know it is not easy but you will be standing up for yourself and the service you provide.
ACAS
As you know we have been calling on Quarriers to go to ACAS for weeks.
At the 11th hour on Friday 2nd September they agreed to go to ACAS for talks on Monday 5th September. We are happy to meet them and hope that the talks will lead somewhere, however they have refused to pause in their attempts to get people to sign up to new contracts with massive pay cuts.
This refusal to pause whilst we talk is not helpful and the misleading email raising doubts about whether the strike is still on is just another in a series. The strike is on! And remains on! Unless you hear from UNISON otherwise do not be put off by disinformation. This shows we have Quarriers worried. We have to keep up the pressure on them to meaningfully negotiate. We will of course keep you updated on any developments
I know these are strange times but we must remain solid and strong. Remember if Quarriers take this measure this year we do not know what they will do next year. Thanks again for your massive support. I look forward to seeing you in George Square.
Yours in solidarity
Stephen Brown