We’re ready to have ballot
BILLY’S STORY
day out. No one works harder than these workers to deliver our services and it now falls on public service workers to raise their voices to protect them for the future.
“The equal pay strike in Glasgow has proved that council workers will no longer go unseen. Fair pay is a huge and growing issue and Cosla and the Scottish Government need to check their budget blindspots or they are on course for collision with coordinated strike action in the new year.”
The Educational Institute of Scotland, Unite, GMB and Unison met this week to discuss a joint strategy should the Scottish Government and Cosla fail to provide a “fair pay deal”.
Campaigning members plan to keep the pressure on by holding a demo outside the Scottish Parliament on budget day, December 12. Unions complain staff working in local government have seen a real-terms cut in basic pay of 21 per cent since 2010.
Teachers warn their take-home pay reduced by nearly a quarter in real terms over the past decade.
On Tuesday, EIS members who took part in a ballot voted by 97 per cent against the pay offer. The Scottish Secondary Teachers’ Association also overwhelmingly rejected the proposal.
Councillor Gail Macgregor, from Cosla, said local authorities don’t have any extra cash. She added: “Local government cannot afford any more percentage increases.”
Education Secretary John Swinney said the deal for teachers is the best in the UK.
He added: “It is disappointing teachers have rejected what I believe was a strong and fair offer.
“I am pleased there will be further UNITE member Billy O’Neill will get £2.15 a day more through the existing pay offer.
The 59-year-old library attendant lives in Easterhouse, Glasgow, and has to spend £4.70 a day to get to work on two buses.
He said: “They’ve got to come up with something better. Something decent. Otherwise,
get me a ballot paper.” talks and we will engage positively with the unions and Cosla to seek a pay deal.”
The Scottish Government said: “What is absolutely clear is that despite continued UK Government real-terms cuts to Scotland’s resource budget, we have treated local government very fairly.
“In 2018-19, councils will receive funding through the local government finance settlement of £10.7billion.
“This will provide a real terms boost in both revenue and capital funding for public services.”