[Scotland] Pay rise awarded to council staff was rejected by biggest union

Scottish council staff will receive a pay rise, despite the offer being overwhelmingly rejected by their biggest union, BBC News reports.

The pay offer - an increase of either 3.6 per cent or £1,292 - was intended to safeguard against the threat of bin strikes back in August.

Members of the GMB and Unite reportedly accepted the offer but Unison rejected it and has warned that strikes are still possible.

The rise was approved by council leaders at the regular meeting of the council umbrella body Cosla.

Staff have been waiting for their annual pay rise since April. This offer will cover almost all council staff across Scotland except teachers.

All full-time staff would see a minimum rise of £1,292, meaning that it is worth most in percentage terms to the lowest paid workers.

The Scottish government reportedly made extra resources available so councils could improve on a previous pay offer - worth 3.2 per cent for all staff - but has reiterated that no more money for pay is available this year.

The GMB and Unite stated their goal for members to get the rise they voted for as soon as possible; a rise that would be backdated to April. These unions represent a large proportion of lower-paid council staff.

However, members of the biggest union, Unison, voted to reject it. The union said it believes more needs to be done to address what it sees as the long-term decline in the value of council pay.

Unison reportedly stated that council staff have seen the value of their pay fall by 25 per cent over the last 14 years and says councils are facing problems recruiting staff for some roles.

It has warned of the risk of strikes and claims it may ballot further council workers on action.

Councils said that using any more of their money for pay would lead to further cuts to services or job losses.

Source: BBC News

(Link via original reporting)

Scottish council staff will receive a pay rise, despite the offer being overwhelmingly rejected by their biggest union, BBC News reports.

The pay offer - an increase of either 3.6 per cent or £1,292 - was intended to safeguard against the threat of bin strikes back in August.

Members of the GMB and Unite reportedly accepted the offer but Unison rejected it and has warned that strikes are still possible.

The rise was approved by council leaders at the regular meeting of the council umbrella body Cosla.

Staff have been waiting for their annual pay rise since April. This offer will cover almost all council staff across Scotland except teachers.

All full-time staff would see a minimum rise of £1,292, meaning that it is worth most in percentage terms to the lowest paid workers.

The Scottish government reportedly made extra resources available so councils could improve on a previous pay offer - worth 3.2 per cent for all staff - but has reiterated that no more money for pay is available this year.

The GMB and Unite stated their goal for members to get the rise they voted for as soon as possible; a rise that would be backdated to April. These unions represent a large proportion of lower-paid council staff.

However, members of the biggest union, Unison, voted to reject it. The union said it believes more needs to be done to address what it sees as the long-term decline in the value of council pay.

Unison reportedly stated that council staff have seen the value of their pay fall by 25 per cent over the last 14 years and says councils are facing problems recruiting staff for some roles.

It has warned of the risk of strikes and claims it may ballot further council workers on action.

Councils said that using any more of their money for pay would lead to further cuts to services or job losses.

Source: BBC News

(Link via original reporting)