NEWS UPDATE: Unite and GMB join UNISON in ballot to accept new pay offer
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Unite the union has confirmed that following talks involving the First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon, COSLA and the trade unions, a new ‘credible’ pay offer has been formally put on the table.
It joins UNISON in suspending upcoming strike action.
Unite has said that the substance of the new offer has led to a recommendation by its local government committee to accept.
Strikes scheduled to take place in waste and education services from September 6 to 13 are now suspended.
Unite will hold a consultative ballot of its local government membership on the offer which it aims to complete by September 22.
Unite can confirm a flat rate fully consolidated offer of £2000 for those earning up to £20,500.
This is the equivalent to an increase of around 10 - 11 per cent for the lowest paid who are estimated to be around 18 per cent of the total workforce.
The offer is consolidated into overtime, allowances and pensions.
It further includes a £1925 flat rate offer which is fully consolidated for those earning between £20,500 and up to £39,000.
This is the equivalent to an increase of 8 per cent for those earning around £24,000.
The offer would also be backdated to April.
Wendy Dunsmore, Unite’s lead negotiator for local government, welcomed the new offer, she said: “After the latest round of intensive talks a new credible offer has finally been put on the table by COSLA. Unite wants to acknowledge the First Minister’s direct involvement as a primary reason for the breakthrough.
"The offer on the table is fully consolidated and as such there will be more cash in the pot going forward for local government workers.
"It provides a degree of security for the lowest paid with a flat rate offer of £2000 which is an uplift worth around 10-11 per cent.
"We now have a credible offer which our local government representatives can recommend to the membership for acceptance.”
GMB has also put and improved pay offer before members for consultation, suspending planned strike actions in waste services and schools
Responding this afternoon to the revised offer GMB Scotland Senior Organiser for Public Services Keir Greenaway said: “GMB has been very clear that more must be done for the lowest paid in local government and this latest offer delivers a significant amount of consolidated money for these workers, including the frontline refuse and schools’ staff that everyone depends on.
“It’s not a perfect offer but it is the view of GMB Scotland’s local government committee that it’s worthy of members consultation and their acceptance, but ultimately our members whose campaigning and strike actions have improved these terms will have the final say.
“In the meantime, we have agreed to suspend all planned strike action so this consultation process can take place and our GMB organisers and workplace reps will be visiting as many workplaces as possible to engage our members on this.
“Most importantly, we want to pay tribute to our members.
"Strike action is not easy, it requires sacrifice and solidarity to deliver outcomes that make work better, and they have fought long and hard for an improved offer to help confront this cost-of-living crisis.”
