Colleagues
SCOTTISH
LOCAL GOVERNMENT PAY 2015 – 2017
As you will be
aware UNISON and the other SJC trade unions have been in negotiations with the
Scottish Employers for a number of months on the issue of pay. We submitted a
claim in November last year, the headline of which was an increase of £1 per
hour. Unfortunately we were unable to convince the employer’s to make a flat
rate increase in this pay round. It was also the case that the employer’s were
prepared to offer an increased ‘pot of money’ if the trade unions were able to
agree to a two year pay settlement. That being the case the final offer from
the employer’s is as follows;
·
A
pay agreement which covers the period from 1st April 2015 to 31st March 2017
·
2015
-2016. As of 1st April 2015, the Scottish Local Government Living
Wage of £7.85ph will be applied, following which there will be an increase of
1.5% on all spinal column points. This would achieve a Scottish Local
Government Living Wage of £7.97ph
·
2016
– 2017. As of 1st April 2016, the Living Wage will be increased to
the recommended figure of the Living Wage Foundation, following which there
will be an increase of 1% on all spinal column points.
·
A
commitment from the employer’s to examine the feasibility of a ‘flat rate’
settlement in future pay rounds subject to the trade unions making such a
claim.
The Scottish
Local Government Committee have carefully considered this offer and whilst they
recognise that it does not meet the terms of our claim, it is their view that
further negotiations will not improve this offer. It is also noted that the employer’s
have committed to discussions with the trade unions commencing in September
2015, regarding the full consolidation of the living wage and the deletion of
spinal column points below the level of the living wage
It is
therefore their view that this offer is the best that can be achieved by
negotiation and that the recommendation to members is to ACCEPT.
A full
consultation with members will now take place. This will be in the form of a
consultative ballot sent to member’s home addresses. The ballot will open on
3rd September and close at 12 noon on 25th September 2015. Please
encourage all members to use their vote.
Any member who
does not receive a ballot paper please email the following address before 22nd
September. membershipteamscotland@unison.co.uk
Dougie Black - Regional Organiser/ SJC Secretary
