Unions urge council workers to accept pay offer
An improved pay offer for local government workers has been welcomed by trade union leaders.
Following months of campaigning by Unison, GMB and Unite, the body representing councils, Cosla, tabled an increased deal for employees of 9.5% over three years.
It will see workers given a rise of 3.5% for 2018-19, 3% for 2019-20 and 3% for 2020-21.
The deal also provides a commitment to fully consolidate the living wage.
A very welcome response, not there yet but pleased constructive and meaningful discussion has moved us forward đđ» https://t.co/niVRHkGdJn
â Gail Macgregor (@CllrGMacgregor) December 19, 2018
Unison has urged its members to accept the offer.
Johanna Baxter of Unison said: âThis revised and improved offer would never have been achieved without the resolve, campaigning activity and political lobbying efforts of Unison members up and down the country.
âWhilst the offer does not make up for the many years of austerity, the provision of cost of living increases which meet current and projected levels of RPI is welcome â as are the commitments to fully consolidate the living wage and maintain parity across the local government workforce.â
Mark Ferguson, chair of Unisonâs local government committee, said: âThis offer does not meet all of our expectations but it is a move in the right direction after a decade of below inflation increases and job cuts.
âMany of our low paid members have patiently waited on their employer to consolidate the living wage â the employersâ past failure to deliver on that has resulted in eradication of pay differentials on the pay model for those doing the most demanding jobs.â
UNISON welcomes improved pay offer for council workers â UNISON Scotland https://t.co/qDZaAtFotY
â UNISON Scotland (@unisonscot) December 19, 2018
Councillor Gail Macgregor, of Cosla, said: âI am absolutely delighted that the Unison local government committee has agreed to recommend the employersâ revised three-year offer to their membership.
âThis is a strong offer which recognises the value of our workforce. This is particularly so given the backdrop of an extremely difficult funding settlement for local government and I am delighted that it has been recommended to the membership for acceptance.
âWe hope that the other SJC unions will also recognise the value of this offer and accept so we can get this money into the pay packets of our hard working and valued workforce.â