PAY UPDATE

Trade Unions recommend reject vote on revised local government pay offer

Local services throughout Scotland could be plunged into crisis after – UNISON, Unite and the GMB – wrote to COSLA to say they will recommend their members reject their revised pay offer when they consult them in the coming weeks.

The revised pay offer, made by COSLA on 6th September, was a 3% increase for all local government workers earning up to £80,000, but the trade unions are angry that this is below inflation and does not improve low pay.

Johanna Baxter, UNISON’s head of local government bargaining said: “UNISON’s campaigning has ended the local government pay cap. But the revised offer does little to address low pay. And it exacerbates a key concern of our members about fairness across the public sector. The Scottish Government has found an additional £25m for teachers pay, which will result in some teachers receiving pay increases of over 10%, however this offer has no additional money to address low pay in local government.”

Mark Ferguson, chair of UNISON Scotland’s local government committee said: “A decade of austerity has led to staffing shortages in key areas of local government like social care and school staff. And many of our members are relying on foodbanks to get by. The Government and COSLA must do more to address these issues and we would urge them to get back around the table with the trade unions.”