International Socialists (CWI Scotland)

Almost 100 UNISON members at Stow College have won a pay rise of £300 for 2009/10 and two days additional annual leave after the threat of strike action. The college did not begin to make any offers until after the workers, who provide support services to students, voted by 91% in favour of strike action. 
 
Two weeks before the strike action was to begin the employer offered £200, a £50 one-off payment and additional leave from 2011. In the week before the strike they brought forward the additional leave to 2010. The workers rejected both these offers.

The day before the strike the employer made their third offer and this was accepted by the members in the UNISON workplace consultation. The vast majority of the workers earn between £15,000 and £19,500 per year.
 
This is a good outcome and the workers are to be congratulated for standing solid until they achieved an acceptable offer. It shows once again that an organised group of workers who are prepared to take action can win concessions from the employer even in the current climate. The UNISON branch also recruited several new members during the dispute.