Glasgow strike: Thousands of women bring city ‘to standstill’ in dispute over equal pay

Sign up for the Independent Women email for the latest news, opinion and features Get the Independent Women email for free Get the Independent Women email for free SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Members of the GMB and Unison unions are striking amid a “lack of progress” on equal pay claims from thousands of female workers, the unions said. open image in gallery Thousands of female workers are proceeding with equal pay claims against the council following a court of session ruling last year Home care services for around 6,000 people are affected by the strike which is one of the biggest peacetime industrial actions seen in Glasgow. I just feel that we’re very underpaid for the work that we do.” The cleaning supervisor at the large public library, who has worked there for 25 years, added: “We hope that the council speed things up and gets equal pay for the people that are waiting for it.” open image in gallery Schools and home-care services were disrupted as an estimated 8,000 workers joined a 48-hour walkout The workers are striking over a long-running row over equal pay. “We are extremely close to it and I am confident that they will get the settlement that they are entitled to and we will start paying out in the next financial year.” Sue Macgregor says there won't be equal pay until 'men start having babies' Mandy McDowall, of Unison, said: “It is a modern-day scandal that nearly 50 years on from the Equal Pay Act being introduced, we find ourselves standing alongside thousands of women who are being discriminated against by one of the UK’s largest councils.