200,000 Reject Three-Year Pay Offer For Council Staff

UNIONS representing 200,000 local government workers in Scotland yesterday rejected a 2.5 per cent pay deal.

The offer from the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (Cosla) would have give a rise of 2.5 per cent for each of the next three years.

The three unions – Unison, the GMB and Unite – had tabled a claim for a one-year deal for a rise of a rise of £1,000 or 5 per cent, whichever was greater.

Officials of the unions said they were rejecting the deal and would use a consultation exercise to call on their members working in local government to follow suit.

Dougie Black, of Unison, said: “There is a great deal of anger at the employers’ insistence on a three-year deal and their continuing refusal to agree a clause linked to inflation.

“The offer is already less than inflation. Councillors should be aware that our members are serious about this offer being unacceptable.

“Cosla have said they want to make efficiency savings so they can reinvest in services.

“One of those investments should be in the workforce that delivers these services.”

Alec McLuckie, senior organiser of GMB Scotland, said: “Clearly, rejection of this offer places us on a course for industrial action.”