UNISON, Unite and the GMB have sent a joint letter to the leader of every local authority across Scotland urging them to improve the pay offer to council workers and avert strike action across local government.
The three trade unions representing local government workers have written directly to every council leader across Scotland in advance of the meeting of COSLA Leaders being held on Friday 30th November 2018. The three trade unions will be holding a demonstration outside of that meeting.
The letter to leaders states “There is now a very real possibility of widespread industrial action across the Local Government workforce unless you take measures to improve the current offer. We would urge you to do so”.
All trade unions have consulted their members on the recent pay offer from COSLA and all have confirmed to COSLA that their members have rejected it. All trade unions will now proceed to organising statutory industrial action ballots unless the current offer is improved. There was no progress in talks at a meeting of the Trade Unions and COSLA on the 9th November but it was agreed that a tripartite meeting – involving COSLA, the Trade Unions and the Scottish Government, may assist in exploring the urgent need for an injection of additional funding for local government from the Scottish Government and this is in the process of being arranged.
Johanna Baxter, Head of Local Government (Bargaining) said: “COSLA Leaders have the power to prevent mass industrial action across the local government workforce by listening to, and addressing, the genuine concerns of our members. We would urge them to do so and to improve the current pay offer.”
Elaine Dougall, Unite Senior National Officer said “Unite urges COSLA Leaders to discuss and deliver an improved offer to Local Government workers as they meet on 30th November in Edinburgh to avert industrial action in the New Year. Local Government workers deserve a decent pay rise in recognition of the valuable contribution that they make in delivering crucial services across Scotland.”
Drew Duffy, GMB Senior Organiser said “COSLA and the Scottish Government are running out of time to do more for the lowest paid in local government. Our members are very clear that they are prepared to move to industrial action in their fight for a better offer and after a decade of cuts to their pay and conditions, no one should be surprised. How the employer-side responds over the coming days will be a reflection of how they value workers on the front-line of our vital local services – and it will also shape the unions’ next steps.”
Notes:
- You can read the letter to COSLA Leaders here.
- The meeting of COSLA Leaders is due to take place at 10am on Friday 30th November 2018 in COSLA HQ, Verity House, 19 Haymarket Yards, Edinburgh, EH12 5BH.
- The trade union demonstration outside COSLA Leaders meeting will start at 9am.
- Local government workers have endured a decade of austerity with job cuts, and a decade real terms pay cuts. A decade of austerity has led to staffing shortages in key areas of local government like social care and school staff.
- The final offer from the employers (CoSLA), after months of campaigning and negotiations, was 3% for one year for workers earning up to £80,000. Despite assurances from CoSLA about parity and fairness across all local government workers, the Scottish government found an extra £38m for teachers – meaning some teachers could get up to 10% pay rises, while the teaching assistants working alongside them would get 3%.
- The offer to the trade unions is below the current rate of inflation and does not address or improve low pay.
Contacts:
Johanna Baxter, UNISON Head of Local Government (Bargaining): 07817 120 894
Elaine Dougall, Unite Senior National Officer: 07810157904
Drew Duffy, GMB Senior Organiser: 07912560806