Council workers union begins industrial ballot preparation saying staff won’t be “used as a political football”
UNISON, the largest trade union in Scotland’s councils, representing 80,000 local government workers across Scotland, are beginning preparations for a formal industrial action ballot of their members over pay.
The move follows a breakdown in negotiations with COSLA today (4th May). This is despite Cosla having been informed that UNISON members have voted overwhelmingly in an indicative ballot to reject COSLA’s current pay offer and in favour of taking some form of industrial action in pursuit of an improved offer.
UNISON state that local government workers have gone above and beyond in their response to the Covid pandemic – a fact which was underlined in the findings of their recent survey of members experiences over the past year – and deserve reward and recognition for their efforts.
Mark Ferguson, UNISON Scotland Chair of Local Government, said “It is unacceptable for our members to be used as a political football in a Holyrood election. Our pay claim was submitted in December and the pay implementation date has come and gone – COSLA could and should have resolved this before now.”
Johanna Baxter, UNISON Scotland head of local government, said: “This is a deeply cynical political ploy from COSLA Leaders who seem to be in denial about their responsibilities as an employer. Whilst it is indeed the case the Scottish Government should put more money into local authorities we have been campaigning on that issue for over a year and they show no willingness to do so. Against that background COSLA need to make a decision about their priorities and their workforce deserve to be rewarded and recognised for their considerable efforts throughout the past year.”
Our members cannot take an industrial dispute with the Scottish Government because they do not employ them. COSLA is the employer and their failure to improve the current inadequate offer simply indicates they are intent on forcing that industrial dispute with a workforce that has spent the last 12 months working flat out on the frontline.”
ENDS
Notes for editors
COSLA Leaders met on Friday 30th April and were expected to take a decision on an improved pay offer. Instead they decided to duck the issue until after the elections on Thursday 6th May after which they intend to lobby the new Scottish Government for increased funding for local authorities.
UNISON is the largest trade union in local government, representing 80,000 local government workers across Scotland
UNISON’s letter to COSLA is here
The pay claim made by the joint unions can be found here
COSLA pay offer here
For further information contact:
Johanna Baxter, UNISON head of local government – 07817 120 894
(NB broadcasters should be aware Johanna is a candidate in Thursday’s election)
Trisha Hamilton, UNISON Communications Officer 07943507307