Local government workers accept improved pay offer
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TRADE union Unite, has confirmed that its local government membership has accepted an improved pay offer by the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (COSLA).
The Joint Trade Unions had threatened industrial action after receiving a mandate in half of Scotland's local authority areas including Moray.
School cleaners, school caterers, school janitorial, waste, recycling and fleet maintenance were due to strike from November 8 until November 12.
However, the threat of over 200,000 council workers striking across Scotland has now been avoided after staff accepted an improved pay offer.
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham, said: "The deal for local government workers across Scotland will ensure that the lowest paid will get a significant increase in their pay of 5.8 per cent. Unite’s members were prepared to fight for a fair wage deal which addresses poverty pay in local government and this deal goes some way in that fight for justice.”
Wendy Dunsmore, Unite regional officer, added: "Unite's members have accepted this deal however pay increases are not a one-year wonder. We will keep the pressure on COSLA and the Scottish Government to improve the standards of living for all local authorities’ workers.”
"Unite’s campaign for 2022 starts now and we will not tolerate the nonsense of waiting months at a time for offers. This should be a warning shot to both COSLA and the Scottish Government that for too long there has been a reliance on local government workers putting up with little or no pay rises, and this has to stop.”
The improved offer will ensure that 250,000 local government workers across Scotland will see a significant wage increase.
Lowest paid workers will see an increase of 5.8 per cent and a minimum rate of £9.78 per hour.
