Time operating out to avert college strike motion, union warns
U
nions have warned time is operating out to avert strike motion by college help employees after rejecting the newest “insulting” pay provide from native authorities employers.
GMB Scotland has rejected the newest pay provide put to unions on Wednesday by the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (Cosla) that it mentioned would supply a minimum of a £1,929 enhance in annual wage for staff by January 1, 2024.
But the provide has been dismissed as “far too little, far too late” by the GMB.
The union, which represents greater than 21,000 staff throughout Scotland’s 32 councils, mentioned strikes involving cleansing, janitorial, catering and pupil help will now go forward with no revised provide and urged ministers to intervene.
Scotland’s largest public sector union, Unison, additionally rejected the pay deal which it claimed was a rise of simply £0.01 per hour or 0.17% on the earlier provide.
This provide, just like the earlier provide, doesn’t come near sustaining the worth of their wages as costs rise. It is way too little and much too late.
Keir Greenaway, GMB Scotland senior organiser in public providers, mentioned: “The latest offer is no significant improvement on the previous offer that was overwhelmingly rejected.
“Strike action is not something our members ever take lightly, but after a long, frustrating process, they have been left with no choice.
“This offer, like the previous offer, does not come close to maintaining the value of their wages as prices rise. It is far too little and far too late.
“Why should local authority workers in Scotland be offered less than in England? Why should they be asked to accept the unacceptable?
“If Cosla does not have the resource or the will to properly protect the wages of some of the country’s most important workers, then the Scottish Government needs to intervene and intervene urgently.”
Strike motion remains to be poised to go forward from September 26-28.
Unison Scotland head of native authorities Johanna Baxter mentioned: “It is deeply disappointing that it has taken Cosla five months since our members rejected the initial offer to present such insignificant changes.
“We have made very clear that Cosla must put forward a significantly improved offer to avert mass school strikes. Members of our local government committee this morning described this offer as insulting.”
Cosla mentioned the pay provide at present on the desk will value councils slightly below half a billion kilos.
Its useful resource spokeswoman, Katie Hagmann, mentioned the provide was “strong”, and added: “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.
“I am disappointed with today’s rejection. However, we will continue to engage as positively as we can with the trade onions as strike action is in nobody’s interests.”
A Scottish Government spokesperson mentioned: “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.”