Latest news with #ClydeTunnel
BBC News
10-07-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Scottish council strikes averted as unions back pay offer
All three major council unions have accepted a two-year pay deal without taking industrial action for the first time in three years. Unite and GMB voted in favour of the offer for council staff, which would see them get a rise of 4% this year and 3.5% in 2026/ pay offer covers almost all council workers apart from - the biggest council union - also accepted the offer from Cosla earlier this week, lifting the threat of strikes. The union, which represents more than 80,000 workers across the country, had launched a strike ballot earlier this year but it was superseded by the most recent Scotland had also warned the Clyde Tunnel, one of Scotland's most important road links, could close after control room workers voted to strike in had overwhelmingly rejected the previous offer, but have now returned a 66% vote in favour of the two-year pay deal. Keir Greenaway, GMB's senior organiser in public service, said the ballot result showed the offer was acceptable but had not done enough for the lowest paid workers. He said: "We argued and will continue to argue for pay offers to be a flat increase to the hourly rate of every council worker."A percentage increase means the highest-paid council staff will receive thousands of pounds more each year while frontline workers get pennies more each hour."This offer does not do enough for them and it does not do enough to reach a minimum wage of £15 an hour which ministers continue to insist is their ambition."Unite's ballot returned a 77% vote in favour of accepting the McNab, Unite's lead negotiator for local government, said: "Scottish council workers have given their backing to a decent pay rise covering the next two years. "We are pleased the negotiations were held in a far more productive way this year than in the past and this should set a benchmark for future years." Risk of strikes over Pay is negotiated at a national level between Cosla and the main unions, and any pay offer has to be affordable for all 32 councils. Council staff in many parts of Scotland went on strike in 2022 and 2023 over pay. In 2022, action led to rubbish piling up in the centre of Edinburgh during the festival while in 2023 there were widespread school closures because janitors were on strike. Both disputes were only resolved after the Scottish government provided more money for councils. Last year, council staff were awarded a pay rise to see off the threat of bin strikes even though the offer was rejected by and GMB accepted the pay offer - an increase of either 3.6% or £1, Unison argued more needed to be done to address what it described as the long-term decline in the value of council pay and mandated strike year 83% of Unison members voted to accept Cosla's most recent pay offer. The union's local government committee chair Suzanne Gens said: "This pay deal is a crucial step in turning round cuts to council staff pay."It gives local government workers some financial security now they know their pay will be higher than inflation over the next couple of years."Cosla said the agreement would bring "a welcome period of stability and certainty" about pay for the workforce.A spokesperson said: "Councils are now able to take forward work to get the pay increase of 7.64% over the two-year period into the pockets of our workforce."While the agreement will have come too late for most councils' July pay runs we know that payroll teams locally will be working hard to implement the uplift and any backpay due in the next months." There will be relief all round that a two-year council pay deal has been accepted by members of all three big council past few years have seen industrial action over pay – some of it massively often had to ask the Scottish government for extra money to help resolve the disputes and improve the pay year the mere threat of action led to a two-year pay deal, the unions believe, helps restore the value of council workers salaries which have fallen in real terms over the will be pleased industrial action has been unnecessary – it is always the last will be pleased too that there is no risk of services being the Scottish government knows there is no possibility of a widespread council strike in the run up to next year's Holyrood unions have longstanding concerns about the value of council salaries and the wages of the lowest paid. They will be looking for further progress in future pay rounds.
BBC News
04-07-2025
- Automotive
- BBC News
Clyde Tunnel toll still under consideration by council
A driver congestion charge and toll for the Clyde Tunnel is still under consideration by Glasgow City Council. The local authority warned in 2023 that a funding gap meant driver charges could be implemented - but only for people who do not live in the city. National agency Transport Scotland has now suggested the city council could take a leading role in bringing in new schemes like congestion any system is unlikely to be introduced until after the Scottish Parliament elections next year. The tunnel, which links north-west and south-west Glasgow, is a key part of the city's transport infrastructure but due to its age requires regular maintenance and estimates suggested the city council face a yearly shortfall of around £820,000 for managing the road - around 10% of the city's entire road maintenance Angus Millar, the convenor for climate, Glasgow Green Deal, transport and city centre recovery, told a recent meeting the council was continuing to meet with Transport Scotland and local government body said this was primarily "in relation to national commitments to reduce car vehicle mileage and the potential roll-out of road user charging as a travel demand management tool".He added: "Transport Scotland has expressed interest in Glasgow and Edinburgh taking a lead role in exploring road user charging and we anticipate further discussions with City of Edinburgh Council in establishing their interest." Is it a reasonable proposal or a war on motorists? Scottish Greens councillor Blair Anderson suggested the scheme could provide enough funding to make buses in Glasgow publicly owned and free. The Glasgow MSP Paul Sweeney has backed the proposal, saying the current situation is not sustainable. He said: "Whilst I believe Transport Scotland should take over responsibility for what is a nationally significant trunk road, it is clear Glasgow City Council cannot continue to subsidise an annual funding shortfall of £820,000 on the Clyde Tunnel. "Therefore, introducing a toll for vehicles that are not registered within the city council boundary passing through the tunnel seems like a reasonable proposal in line with European norms."However, Scottish Conservative MSP Annie Wells said the idea was another example of a "war on motorists" by the said: "This 'tunnel tax' would punish workers, families, and hospital patients travelling to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital. "Many of the hospital's dedicated staff commute from outside the city and this charge would clobber them simply for driving to work."The tunnel cost £10m to build and was estimated to take around 9,000 cars a day when it first opened in is now estimated to carry more than 25 million vehicles, cyclists and pedestrians every year.
Times
03-07-2025
- Business
- Times
Drivers face being charged to use Clyde Tunnel
Drivers may be charged to use the Clyde Tunnel under plans being considered by council bosses. The tunnel is not a designated A road so Transport Scotland has no responsibility for its management. However, funding for its operation and maintenance is the same per kilometre as a standard road, and estimates suggest this leads to an annual shortfall of £820,000 for the city. Councillors are now exploring the possibility of introducing a driver congestion charge and tolls for the tunnel, which would only apply to non-residents. Speaking at last week's full council meeting, Councillor Angus Millar said: 'The council has no specific proposals to introduce any road user charging in Glasgow. However, members will be aware that the council has repeatedly stated its interest in further exploring possibilities around a boundary congestion charge and potential tolling at the Clyde Tunnel — both with exemptions for Glasgow residents.' The tunnel first opened to traffic in 1963 and an estimated 23.7 million vehicles pass through it each year. Millar, who oversees climate policy, the Glasgow Green Deal, transport and city centre recovery, highlighted ongoing discussions with Transport Scotland and Cosla, the national association of Scottish councils. He said: 'Transport Scotland has expressed interest in Glasgow and Edinburgh taking a lead role in exploring road user charging, and we anticipate further discussions with City of Edinburgh council.' The Glasgow MSP Paul Sweeney said: 'It is not sustainable for Glasgow city council to continue maintaining the Clyde Tunnel without a means of raising additional funds, with around 10 per cent of the city's entire annual road maintenance budget being eaten up by the maintenance-intensive tunnel. 'Over the past decade, Glasgow city council has lost the equivalent of a full year's worth of funding as a result of disproportionate SNP cuts to Glasgow, compounded by the constrained council boundary, meaning that many of the region's most prosperous households do not contribute to the city's tax base. 'While I believe Transport Scotland should be responsible for what is a nationally significant trunk road, it is clear Glasgow city council cannot continue to plug an annual funding shortfall of £820,000 on the Clyde Tunnel. Therefore, introducing a toll for vehicles passing through the city that are not registered within the city council boundary seems like a reasonable proposal in line with European norms.' The proposals are still in the early stages, with legal and regulatory checks required before any implementation. These checks are unlikely to occur until after the Scottish parliamentary elections next May. Millar welcomed a commitment from Transport Scotland and the Scottish government to undertake a legislative review. The Scottish Green councillor Blair Anderson raised the topic during the meeting, asking for an update on the city's plans following the Scottish government's promise to empower councils to introduce such schemes. Anderson emphasised the environmental benefits of toll charges, stating: 'The only way we can meet our climate targets is moving people from cars to public transport. A road user charging scheme would give us the money to make Glasgow's buses publicly owned, reliable, fast and free.' Annie Wells, a Scottish Conservative MSP for Glasgow, said: 'It's outrageous that the SNP-run Glasgow city council is even considering a Clyde Tunnel toll to plug the funding gap caused by their own government short-changing local authorities. 'This 'tunnel tax' would punish workers, families and hospital patients travelling to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital. Many of the hospital's dedicated staff commute from outside the city, and this charge would clobber them simply for driving to work.'
BBC News
19-05-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Clyde Tunnel workers vote for strike action
One of Scotland's busiest roads could be forced to close due to strike action by control room team in the Clyde Tunnel control room at Whiteinch monitor cameras, control ventilation and respond to breakdowns and emergencies on the GMB union - which represents most of the workers - previously rejected a 3% pay rise from council umbrella body Cosla, and called on the Scottish government to provide councils with extra funding. The union said the proposed strike is the first step in a campaign of action aimed at securing an improved pay offer of 6.5%. Keir Greenaway, GMB Scotland's senior organiser in public services, said council staff were tired of being treated as "the poor relations in our public services."He added: "Council workers have again been forced to fight for fair pay while watching others in the public sector, NHS Scotland, for example, being made acceptable offers."The team at the Clyde Tunnel keep Scotland's biggest city moving - only one example of the essential services delivered by our members."Without their expertise and experience, one of the country's most important roads could close with untold disruption."Council pay is negotiated nationally between unions and Scotland have called for a 6.5% pay increase instead of the proposed 3%, saying it would work out as the equivalent of a £1 an hour estimated 65,000 cars, vans and lorries use the Clyde Tunnel every City Council and the Scottish government have been contacted for comment.
The Independent
19-05-2025
- Business
- The Independent
Clyde Tunnel ‘could close' as workers vote to strike for better pay
One of Scotland's 'most important roads could close with untold disruption' as workers backed strikes in response to a pay dispute. The Clyde Tunnel in Glasgow, relied upon by around 65,000 drivers a day, faces disruption as control room staff have unanimously backed industrial action. A team of 10 staff based in the city's Whiteinch are responsible for monitoring the tunnel's CCTV system, ensuring it is safe for drivers who use it to cross beneath the River Clyde. They also control ventilation and respond to breakdowns among other emergencies. GMB Scotland said their members in the team backed strike action after Cosla offered a 3% pay increase, which workers deemed too low. The union warned that if the workers strike, the tunnel, which connects the north and south of Glasgow, may be forced to close. Keir Greenaway, senior organiser in public services for GMB Scotland, said the tunnel staff were the first to vote in a strategic campaign of industrial action to secure an improved offer for all council workers. He encouraged the Scottish Government to engage with Cosla to resolve the dispute. He said: 'Council workers have again been forced to fight for fair pay while watching others in the public sector, NHS Scotland, for example, being made acceptable offers. 'The everyday lives of millions of Scots rest on the shoulders of local authority staff and they will not be treated as the poor relations in our public services. 'The team at the Clyde Tunnel keep Scotland's biggest city moving, only one example of the essential services delivered by our members. 'Without their expertise and experience, one of the country's most important roads could close with untold disruption.' He added: 'The current offer adds pennies to the hourly rate paid to the lowest-paid staff, and it is beyond time for ministers to seriously engage with Cosla and the unions to deliver fair pay.' Starting with the proposed Clyde Tunnel strike, the union is now planning strategic action to get workers a £1 an hour increase or 6.5%. It comes after a consultative ballot from all of GMB Scotland's council members said 96% of voters backed walkouts if Cosla refuses to improve the 3% pay offer.
