Glasgow cleaners score success

Environmental workers in Glasgow have dealt a significant blow against the city council and in defence of the working week. Following a successful ballot result for strike action, the council have agreed to withdraw redundancy notices and to "look again" at the issue that was at the heart of the dispute - the proposed four days on/four days off rota.

Prior to the ballot result being announced, the employer took a confrontational position declaring: "Strike if you want". The ballot result, overwhelmingly in favour of all-out action, gave the workers' response and talks were swiftly arranged.

Although the proposed rota remains on the table as the main focus of the dispute, the ballot result has given workers tremendous confidence in sending their union representatives back to argue their case.

Ian Leech, Glasgow Unison member