SOLIDARITY has won billions of pounds for workers during the costs-of-greed crisis in a “stunning indication of worker power,” the STUC said today.

The trade union organisation has revealed research showing that workers across Scotland have added more than £4 billion to the value of their wages and pensions by challenging employers over the last 18 months.

The statistics were released as the STUC prepares for its Strike! conference on Saturday.

It will hear of the victories won by workers over the last year-and-a-half, such as the £1.9bn restored to university workers’ pension schemes after 69 days of UCU action.

The victories come despite talks of “pay restraint” from both UK and Scottish governments.

But while the dispute in Scottish local government rumbles on, last year’s action by Unite, GMB and Unison secured £500 million more for council workers.

The conference will hear how this year, even without a final settlement, strike action has successfully put significantly more cash on the table.

The STUC has calculated that the strikes across health, education, local government, the fire service, transport and telecoms have netted workers £1.1bn more than their initial offer.

STUC general secretary Roz Foyer said: “This is a testament to the determination and resolve of workers across Scotland who’ve stood up and said: enough is enough.

“Unions across Scotland have scored a mighty victory for their members, securing over £4bn in pay and pensions settlements, three-quarters of which is a direct result of balloting or undertaking industrial action.

“I am proud of every single worker who has stood shoulder to shoulder on the picket lines, fighting and winning for their unions and showing a stunning indication of worker power.”

But Ms Foyer was clear that the conference must also learn lessons from the strike wave as the movement prepares for the battles ahead under the Tories’ anti-trade union Strike (Minimum Service Levels) Bill.

She added: “Our collective strength is a force to be reckoned with but with the Tory government attacking the right to strike, this is no time to rest on our laurels.

“Politicians, governments and employers should be in no doubt that the STUC will leave no worker behind.

“Saturday’s conference is an important milestone to share the lessons we have learned and build our movement for the struggle ahead.”