Third union rejects pay supply as strike by faculty help employees looms
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third union has rejected a “measly” pay supply from native authorities employers because the prospect of strike motion by faculty help employees looms nearer.
Unite criticised the revised supply from the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (Cosla) which it stated would signify a rise of solely £0.01 per hour for these on the bottom pay, efficient from January 1, subsequent yr.
And it warned that members throughout 11 councils will stroll out later this month until one thing “dramatic” occurs over the approaching weeks.
It comes after the Unison and GMB Scotland unions additionally rejected the two-part supply that Cosla had stated would supply at the very least a £1,929 improve in annual wage for employees by January 1 2024.
School help employees together with cleaners, caterers, janitors and college help assistants will participate within the co-ordinated motion over three days from Tuesday September 26 to Thursday September 28.
Unite common secretary Sharon Graham stated: “It has taken Cosla five months to increase their offer by a measly 38 pence a week for the lowest paid council workers.
“Unite’s local government representatives rightly rejected this offer.
“The fight for better jobs, pay and conditions in local government goes on, and if needs be by strike action. Unite will back its members all the way.”
The commerce union has urged First Minister Humza Yousaf to instantly intervene within the pay dispute.
Unison has warned that greater than three-quarters of Scotland’s faculties may shut in the course of the strike motion.
It has mandates in 24 native authority areas throughout Scotland whereas GMB Scotland members plan to stroll out in 10 council areas.
Cosla stated the supply would imply the bottom paid employees would see a 21% improve of their pay over a two-year interval.
It stated the pay supply at the moment on the desk will value councils slightly below half a billion kilos and stated that council leaders had gone to the “absolute limits of what local government can afford”.
Commenting after Unison and GMB Scotland rejected the supply on Thursday, Cosla useful resource spokeswoman Katie Hagmann stated: “I am doubly disappointed today, firstly with the rejection itself, but perhaps more importantly with the fact that they did not take the revised offer to their membership for consideration.
“We have continued to conduct these negotiations in good faith and kept communication channels open at all times.
“We absolutely value all our local government workforce and throughout these negotiations council leaders have reiterated the value we place on the workforce and the work that they do.
“That is why we enhanced an already strong offer yesterday, with council leaders going to the absolute limits of what local government can afford. The simple fact of the matter is that we have no more money available for pay without real cuts to jobs and services.
“It must be remembered that we are talking about a pay package worth over £440 million, specifically targeted at the lower end of our workforce. A pay package which not only compares well to other sectors but recognises the cost-of-living pressures on our workforce and which would mean the lowest paid would see a 21% increase in their pay over a two-year period.
“Whichever way you cut it, this is a very strong offer in the financial climate we find ourselves. We have a duty to ensure that services are sustainable within the funding for pay we have available.”
Cosla has been requested for contemporary remark.
A Scottish Government spokesperson stated: “Local government pay negotiations are a matter for local authorities as employers and unions.
“The Scottish Government and Cosla have committed to respect this negotiating arrangement as part of the Verity House Agreement.
“Despite UK Government cuts, the Scottish Government has provided a further £155 million in 2023-24 to support a meaningful pay rise for local government workers, which has been taken into account in the pay offer made by Cosla.
“We continue our engagement with Cosla on how staff and services are supported this year and next.”