Following a special meeting of Council Leaders on Friday morning to discuss Local Government Pay, COSLA has this afternoon made what they described as a significantly improved formal offer to the trade unions.
Earlier today, Leaders welcomed that Scottish Government had provided funding to take a pay offer beyond the 3.2% previously offered by COSLA, recognising the financial position facing councils while also providing firm assurances around any recurring additional funding.
This additional funding means that the revised offer is better than the offer made to local authority workers elsewhere in the UK.
Everyone will receive at least 3.6% and for the first pay point on the pay scales, there will be an increase of £1,292 (or 5.63%), The overall offer value is 4.27%.
In making this improved offer, COSLA is requesting that strike action is suspended while it is considered by the unions, who have been made aware of Leaders’ concerns that the additional funding may be at risk if strikes go ahead.
COSLA’s Resources Spokespeople Cllr Katie Hagmann said: “Having worked hard over the last week with Scottish Government to increase and guarantee additional funding, Leaders are now in a position to make this improved offer to our trade unions. This offer reflects what trade unions have asked for and we hope that they will now be prepared to call off the strikes while they put that offer to their members.”
UNISON Scotland lead for local government, David O’Connor said: “Our local government committee will consider this revised offer on Monday, and we will decide whether or not it is sufficient to suspend the waste and recycling strikes.”
“However, UNISON is by far the largest union in local government and we must make sure that any pay deal works for all council workers.”
“It’s very frustrating to be here, at the final hour again. UNISON put its pay claim in at the beginning of the year.”
Grassmarket in 2022
Founding Editor of The Edinburgh Reporter.
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