Councillor claims workers 'wouldn’t need to strike in indy Scotland'

Campaigner Graham Campbell spoke to crowds gathered around the Royal Concert Hall steps as thousands of university staff walked out in the second day of industrial action.

They rallied in the city centre on Friday to demand 'fair pay' after feeling “absolutely burnt out” and fearing how to pay their bills, according to unions.

It comes as the University and College Union (UCU) claimed cuts have cost members 35% of their expected pension.

Campbell appeared as a last-minute speaker at the demonstration and told staff they could “bet their bottom dollar” things would be drastically different if Scotland left the union.

He claimed “we wouldn't be having to stand here” if Scotland was not “denied” the chance to “make decisions for ourselves”.

He said: “It's a clear case that for all striking workers, they should not have to pay the price for austerity.

“We didn't cause that - the bankers caused that, the energy giants caused that, the Tories with their disastrous Government in London caused that.

“They have told us this very week that we don’t have the right as a nation for people in Scotland to call our own referendum.

“To have these powers in our hands, in our own parliament so we can make these decisions for ourselves - you can bet your bottom dollar if we had these powers we wouldn't be having to stand here, we would not have workers going on strike.

“We wouldn't have to because we would have just pay settlements, and economic measures taken so the rich pays their share.

“That's what we would have, in a free truly independent social democratic Scotland which respects the environment.

“That's the future we want but we are being denied it, it's all connected.”

Around 8000 lecturers, librarians and researchers who are members of the University and College Union (UCU) continued their 48-hour walkout on Friday over their pay, pensions and conditions.

The UCU said many of its members are employed on precarious contracts which does not give them enough time for marking or supporting students.

Unison representatives said they have been forced to negotiate permanent work from home contracts for staff as they cannot afford petrol to travel to campuses.

Other members claim they are struggling to cover their rent or pay for weekly groceries as a result of cuts.

Union representative Nick McKerrell said: “When the utility bills are at breathtaking figures and we have to make real decisions about how long we put the heating on for, if at all, that means we won't accept anymore.

“We are taking action for pay. A fair pay for everyone, in higher education.

“We are united now, and we should stay united, because united action across the trade union movement in education will resolve this.

“The wave of strike action in education will become a tsunami which will change the way higher education operates in Scotland. Solidarity.”

The Government was contacted for comment.