Scottish Labour And Greens On Picket Lines

Scottish Labour And Greens On Picket Lines

Labour and Green MSPs will steer clear of a Holyrood debate in favour of joining striking public sector employees.

The parties will miss a Scottish Government debate on public sector pensions reform, previously described by Finance Secretary John Swinney as an opportunity for "savaging" the UK Government.

The SNP refused to clear the parliamentary timetable, saying MSPs should be debating the issues that led to the industrial action.

A Scottish Government spokesman confirmed that ministers do not support the strike action. He said: "We think this is unnecessary, as a result of an ill-conceived UK Government policy in terms of increasing employee pension contributions.

"We think that it is the wrong course of action, and the priority needs to be for the UK Government to change course, and for meaningful negotiations to resolve the issue. It is in the overwhelming public interest that that happens."

Figures are awaited on how many Government staff have gone on strike.

A spokeswoman added: "Government offices will be open but obviously there will be people who work for the Scottish Government on strike, so there will be some disruption possibly to the work done. But Government business will continue and key areas will be manned appropriately."

The Scottish Government Resilience (SGoR) team will be in operation and there will be a cabinet sub-committee to respond to the effects of the strike across the country.

Scottish Labour leader Iain Gray said all his party's MSPs will be standing "shoulder to shoulder with workers" at picket lines across the country.

Green co-leader Patrick Harvie MSP said all parties should support the unions and their action, which was a "crucial statement of resistance".

Close

What's Hot