Workers could walk out over pay dispute
Union blasts deal for lowest earners as unfair
Carers, cleaners and bin men have rejected a pay offer from council chiefs.
Trade union GMB has knocked back a deal which would have seen the lowest earners handed a three per cent hike.
Leaders insisted members – including those employed by Renfrewshire Council – could walk out and had delivered a “clear and resounding” rebuff.
Drew Duffy, senior organiser for GMB Scotland, blasted the proposals as “blatantly unfair” and “unacceptable”.
He said: “We have been saying for months that the Scottish Government’s public pay policy must do more for the lowest paid after a decade of real terms cuts and freezes to our members’ pay and conditions.
“Left unchallenged, the offer will increase the pay of the highest grades in local government by £1,600, while staff on the lowest grades will get between £250 and £600.
“It begs the question, do they really think that a council chief executive is worth £1,000 more than a home care worker, bin collector or school cleaner?”
Cosla – the umbrella group representing the country’s 32 local authorities – tabled the bid on behalf of ministers.
They offered a three per cent rise for those earning below £36,500.
A two per cent increase was suggested for those earning between that amount and £80,000.
Top earners – making over the higher threshold – were offered a flat increase of £1,600.
GMB represents council workers, including classroom assistants, roads workers and parks staff.
A ballot among employees across the country saw 92 per cent vote to reject the deal.
Unions have called for parity to ensure all workers are given an equal raise and have called on Finance Secretary Derek Mackay to improve terms.
Mr Duffy added: “Our trade union doesn’t think so, but Derek Mackay thinks this offer gives council workers equal value.
“He should look at the scale of this rejection and consider that the reality on the ground is very different than the view from the political bubble.
“Further talks between the local government joint trade unions, Cosla and the Scottish Government have been earmarked, but we aren’t going to wait and hope for a change. Our members deserve better than that and, backed by this mandate, GMB will now take forward our campaign for fair pay and prepare for targeted industrial actions in local services across the country.”
GMB says it is planning industrial action across key services.