Recognising the Benefits of Industrial Action in Securing Better Pay for Workers

That the Parliament recognises what it sees as the benefits of industrial action in securing better pay for workers; notes the data released by the Scottish Trades Union Congress, covering workers in health, education, local government, the fire service, transport and telecoms across Scotland, which showed that industrial action helped workers to secure an extra £2 billion in pay deals; understands that £1.1 billion of this came as a direct result of balloting for or taking industrial action; acknowledges what it considers to be the vital role that trade unions play in securing better pay and conditions for workers across Scotland, and notes the belief that the Scottish Government should seek to proactively encourage trade union membership and workplace recognition through its Fair Work agenda.