Over 300 construction workers employed by Dundee City Council are set to strike, despite ongoing negotiations between management and union representatives. The workers, including

joiners, plumbers, electricians, labourers and scaffolders, are planning an all-out strike for three weeks, followed by daily action until 23 June.

According to Unite the union, 95% of workers voted in favour of the strike campaign. The strike is in protest against plans by the council to privatise services and a vehicle tracking system used by the council. Unite's general secretary, Sharon Graham, stated that the union's workers are determined to hold management accountable over the outsourcing plans. Graham added that Unite will fight to ensure that the services remain in public hands and that the jobs, pay, and conditions of their members are protected.

However, the council denies any plans to outsource services and states that the vehicle tracking system has been in use for years to safeguard staff and manage the fleet as efficiently as possible for the benefit of residents. The council spokesperson stated that the council is in ongoing dialogue with union representatives and believes that a resolution can be reached without the need for strike action.

The strike action by the Dundee City Council workers highlights the ongoing tension between workers and management over the outsourcing of public services. Unions argue that outsourcing leads to lower pay and poorer working conditions for workers and results in a lack of accountability by private companies who run these services.

On the other hand, management argues that outsourcing services can lead to cost savings and improved efficiency in service delivery. However, in recent years, there have been numerous examples of outsourcing failures, including the collapse of Carillion in 2018, which resulted in the loss of thousands of jobs.

The strike action by Dundee City Council workers is the latest in a series of industrial disputes across the UK, as workers fight to protect their jobs, pay and conditions amid the ongoing economic uncertainty brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic. The strike also highlights the importance of workers' rights and the need for fair pay and working conditions for all workers, especially those providing essential public services.

In conclusion, the strike by the construction workers at Dundee City Council highlights the ongoing tension between workers and management over the outsourcing of public services. Unions argue that outsourcing leads to poorer working conditions and a lack of accountability by private companies, while management argues that outsourcing can lead to cost savings and improved efficiency. The ongoing industrial disputes across the UK highlight the importance of workers' rights and fair pay and working conditions for all workers, especially those providing essential public services. Photo by Val Vannet, Wikimedia commons.