Council employees in Scotland will be balloted for industrial action following a Friday pay offer that was rejected by Unison.
The council leaders decided to implement the Scottish Joint Council’s (SJC) offer of pay, which was accepted by both the GMB union and Unite union, in order to make sure that employees receive their pay increase and backpay as soon as possible.
The Convention of Scottish Local Authorities, or Cosla, has stated that the SJC’s pay award of 3,6%, or PS0.67, whichever is greater, offers a fair and solid settlement above inflation, calling it at the “absolute limits of affordability”.
David O’Connor is Unison Scotland’s lead for local government. He said that the union was working on a schedule to vote members about strike action. He said that just two days earlier, Cosla’s lead negotiator Katie Hagmann as well as the cabinet secretary of local government Shona Robertson had assured the union that they were committed towards a negotiated agreement.
They’ve now resorted, by imposing the deal, to some of their worst employment practices. “They should be ashamed of themselves.”
Hagmann, Cosla’s spokesperson on resources, stated: “The offer, worth 4.27%, is for the entire workforce, and aligns with the pay award agreed upon by the Teachers’ Panel. Over 75% of SJC’s workforce will see an increase above 3.6%, with the lowest-paid receiving up to 5.63% at the request from all trade unions.
She stated that the council leaders have fully taken into consideration the views of all three unions. This includes the desire expressed by GMB and Unite to implement the offer as quickly as possible.
She continued: “This doesn’t mean the discussions are over.” Cosla is committed to the negotiations and will continue to dialogue with our trade union partners with the aim of reaching a collective agreement if possible.
Unison compared the council worker pay increase with the 5,5% increase granted to NHS staff in Scotland.
Cosla claimed that a higher increase would lead to more service cuts or job losses. The pay rise affects refuse workers, caterers, early childhood workers and non-teaching school staff.
Shona Robertson, Scotland’s Finance and Local Government Secretary said that the decision taken by council leaders to implement local government pay offers will stop any further delays. This will ensure that workers who are most in need of pay receive it before Christmas.
Industrial action will not serve anyone’s interest, even though the government respects Unison members for their decision to reject the offer.
The offer is better than that made to local government workers in the rest of the UK. The offer of pay is higher than the one made to local government employees in the UK.
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