Unite joins Unison in rejecting pay offer
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Unite the union has confirmed that its local government committee has today (Monday) rejected outright a new offer by COSLA.
Following days of intense negotiations, a new offer has been tabled by COSLA but Unite has criticised it as a ‘waste of precious time’ because the structure of the proposal continues to disproportionately hit the lowest paid.
The offer remains a minimum of 5 per cent on average across the local government pay grades with a varying one-off payment - for the lower paid it is estimated to be around £989.
Unite further estimates that the offer in total represents for around 85 per cent of the workforce between £1925 and £2000.
However, the offer will not be consolidated into salaries, it is non-recurring and it fails to recognise that the cost of living is projected to increase for all workers.
Unite industrial officer Wendy Dunsmore, said: “Unite has rejected outright the latest pay offer from COSLA.
"The structure of the offer continues to disproportionately and unfairly effect the lowest paid with the majority of those being women.
"In real terms it leaves the lowest paid workers no better-off and a significant proportion of the offer does not enhance overtime, allowances or pensions.”
“The offer remains unacceptable and it represents a waste of precious time.
"We understand the gravity of the situation across the country but equally our members are facing the worst cost of living crisis in a generation.
"Unite’s strike action remains scheduled for next week unless COSLA gets back to us with a credible offer which addresses our primary concerns.”
Strike action across 14 councils in waste services across Scotland involving Unite members is scheduled to end in Edinburgh tomorrow (August 30) and on August 31 in the remaining 13 councils.
The next phase of strike action set to take place in education and waste services impacting 20 councils from September 6 to 13.
