Achi news desk-
Unison said they would now vote members – including cleaners and school staff – on walkouts.
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Colette Hunter, chair of the union’s local government committee, said: “This result must be a wake-up call to Cosla that council workers need to be fairly rewarded for the essential services they provide.
“Staff have experienced years of cuts to their pay levels and a reversal must begin.
“The last thing anyone wants to do is go on strike, but local government workers deserve a fair increase to stop their pay falling further behind inflation, and the pay rises being given in sectors others from the economy.
“Employees have seen the value of their pay fall over the last 10 years, often while being asked to do even more.
“They provide vital services to their communities by looking after the most vulnerable, educating children, waste and recycling and keeping people safe.
“Council workers deserve better.”
COSLA has today (Thursday 23 May) written to the Scottish Joint Council (SJC) Trade Unions with a formal wage offer for the Scottish Local Authority workforce.
The offer from the local authorities would have run for a period of 18 months, with an increase of 2.2% from 1 April, and a further increase of 2% coming into effect from 1 October.
A COSLA spokesman said: “We are disappointed that our salary offer has been rejected by Unison. Our workforce is highly valued by Council Leaders.
“In the context of a flat money budget settlement for Local Government we made a strong offer. The offer is of 2.2% from 1 April with a further 2% from 1 October in line with the current forecasts for inflation.
“We are concerned that the threatened strike will harm communities and put service users at risk. We remain committed to doing the best we can from our workforce, who deliver vital local services in every community across Scotland.”
