Vote confirms pay rise for council workers

Hard working staff at both North and South Lanarkshire councils have been given a pay rise after a public sector union revealed the results of a ballot on a pay deal.

Members of UNISON have voted to accept a pay deal after the union secured an additional £48m funding on the pay bill for an improved offer from COSLA.

UNISON announced the result earlier this month, with more than 75 per cent voting in favour of the offer.

It means the majority of council workers will receive a pay rise of between 3.4 and 4.7 per cent, with the pay offer being backdated to January 2021.

More than 55 per cent of local government workers earn below £25,000 a year and the flat rate increase of approximately £1062 secured for those workers is the highest single uplift in a one-year settlement for the lowest paid that has been achieved.

UNISON is calling on COSLA to implement the pay deal as soon as possible and has warned that the principle of parity across the local government workforce must be maintained or the union will seek to reopen negotiations.

Johanna Baxter, UNISON’S head of local government, said:“we’re delighted to have secured an improved pay offer for our members which rightly puts more money into the pockets of those on the lowest pay.

“It is just disappointing that UNISON members had to threaten to go on strike for their employer to recognise their worth.

“Our dedicated local government workers have kept our services going throughout the pandemic and we will continue to fight for them and for the services they deliver. Empowering our local councils and communities will be critical going forward and we need the Scottish Government to invest in our local services and the key workers who deliver them.”