The Canadian Union of Public Employees is pledging its support to striking workers in Glasgow, Scotland. Paul Moist, national president of CUPE, made the pledge at a rally held by UNISON, one of the United Kingdom’s largest trade unions, in support of its 70 members on strike against the Glasgow City Council.
The striking workers provide services to homeless people in Glasgow. They have been on strike since March 31, 2015, and are pushing for fairer wages. Some workers doing similar work in the UK are paid £5000 (approx. $9600 CDN) more per year then the striking UNISON members.
“CUPE members in Canada do similar work, and fully appreciate the vital services these workers provide to their community every day,” said Moist at the rally. “CUPE is proud to stand in solidarity with these brave UNISON members in their time of need.”
Moist, who is in Glasgow representing CUPE at UNISON’s 2015 National Conference, pledged a donation of £5000 to the striking workers.
UNISON represents over 1.3 million public service workers in the UK, in many of the same sectors as CUPE does in Canada.