More than 300 construction workers, including scaffolders, at Dundee City Council have initiated strike action today amid a dispute over outsourcing claims and tracking of workers.
The industrial action is set to last for three weeks, with plans for further daily strikes until the end of June.
The Council’s Construction Services workforce, which consists of joiners, plumbers, electricians, labourers, and scaffolders, is demanding assurances from Dundee City Council that no services will be outsourced to private contractors.
Bob Macgregor, Unite industrial officer, expressed the workers’ concerns, stating, “We need cast-iron guarantees that there are no proposals by Dundee City Council to outsource any services to private contractors.”
He also criticised the council management for failing to address the workforce’s apprehensions, including what they believe is the inappropriate monitoring of council vehicles. “Unite will fight for our members every step of the way,” Macgregor added.
A spokesperson for Dundee City Council responded by saying that they remain in dialogue with trade union representatives to resolve the issues raised, believing that a resolution can be reached without the need for strike action.
The spokesperson added that the Council is committed to investing in and modernising the Construction Services to provide the service the public expects.
The spokesperson also addressed the outsourcing issue, stating that subcontractors were temporarily brought in to deal with the significant backlog of repairs accumulated during the Covid-19 restrictions. They emphasised that there are no plans to outsource these roles permanently.
Regarding the vehicle tracking policy, the spokesperson mentioned that it has been in place for several years across all council services, aiming to safeguard staff, manage the fleet efficiently, and ensure the best value for service delivery to Dundee’s residents.
