Thousands could walk out after CoSLA offer rejected
Jack Thomson Local Democracy Reporter
Thousands of council workers could down tools in the new year after throwing out their employer’s pay offer.
Unison members in Renfrewshire have been left fuming over CoSLA’s offer to increase salaries by just three per cent.
Now around 3,500 people are moving towards strike action as they voted to reject the rise.
Workers affected include those from Renfrewshire Council, Renfrewshire Leisure, Scotland Excel, Clyde Muirshiel and Renfrewshire Valuation Joint Board.
Mark Ferguson, Renfrewshire branch secretary for Unison, said a consultative ballot showed “people are angry that for the second year running teachers have been given a higher pay rise”.
He added: “They do not think it is fair that the Scottish Government found £38 million extra to put into teachers’ pay, over and above their cost of living increase, but they have offered no additional money for low paid local government workers.”
Unison, GMB and Unite met with CoSLA on Friday to inform them of the results of their ballots, which showed an overwhelming majority in favour of rejecting the offer and taking industrial action.
“The next step would involve holding a statutory industrial action ballot, which is expected to confirm strike action as the preferred move.
Mr Ferguson, pictured above, said: “I would expect we would have a result towards the end of the year, and if it’s in favour of industrial action, that would probably be in the new year. “If we can go before, we will.” Johanna Baxter, Unison’s head of local government, said: “What this result demonstrates is a real anger and frustration amongst Unison members at the lack of action by CoSLA and the Scottish Government to address the serious issue of low pay in local government.”
CoSLA indicated their “disappointment” as voters rejected the three per cent increase.
Councillor Gail Macgregor, spokeswoman for the organisation, said: “Obviously my first reaction is one of disappointment at the outcome of the ballot. We value our workforce and our three per cent offer matches other offers within the public sector in Scotland.”
The Scottish Government had come under criticism for finding cash for teachers, which could see some get up to a 10 per cent pay rise, but not stepping in to support local government workers.
A spokesman said: “We value and recognise the contribution of all local authority staff. However, pay for local government employees, other than teachers, is negotiated between the unions and CoSLA, and the Scottish Government is not part of that process.”