Treasury chief Danny Alexander hits out at strike action
Nationwide strike action today by public sector workers, which has resulted in the closure of schools across the strath, has been roundly condemned by local MP and Chief Secretary to the Treasury Danny Alexander.
He said the "distracting and disrupting" strike by up to two million people, which has also led to medical appointments in the region being cancelled, will have a harmful effect on the UK’s economy.
A Highland Council spokesman said the industrial action over pensions had meant the closure of all 182 primary schools, 29 secondary schools and five special schools.
NHS Highland are also running what they have described as a limited but safe service in its hospitals.
Mr Alexander, who has been leading the Government’s negotiations with union bosses, told the "Strathy": "It’s very disappointing that the unions have decided to call their members out on strike when pension negotiations are still going on and they are still talking and there is good prospect of reaching an agreement before the end of December.
"It’s wrong to be going on strike, and this will be very disruptive to people in Badenoch and Strathspey and elsewhere."
However, the industrial action has been backed by Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch MSP David Thompson (SNP).
He described the UK Government’s proposed changes to public sector pensions as "a naked cash grab by Westminster".
UNISON said that its members – including nurses, paramedics, education staff, social workers, home carers, medical secretaries, porters and catering staff – had voted decisively ‘yes’ for industrial action.
A spokesman said they had not taken their decision lightly.
He explained: "They go to work day in, day out, to make their communities better places in which to live and work.
"They don’t want to inconvenience people in the Highlands, but they’ve been left with little choice."
NHS Highland confirmed that its plans were fully in place to cope with the strike action.
Most non-emergency work, including most outpatient clinics, day surgery and elective surgery, has been cancelled.
There will be a short march and rally in support of the strike at Mercure Hotel (formerly the Ramada Jarvis Hotel), in Church Street in Inverness, starting at noon today.
It will include a visit from "Danny the Robber" – someone dressed as a thief with a Danny Alexander mask and a "Pensions Swag" bag.
