22 February 2008
Unions representing more than 100,000 council workers in Scotland have rejected a three-year pay offer.
The employers, the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities, offered 2.2% in 2008, 2.3% in 2009 and a further 2.2% in 2010. But the biggest public sector union, Unison, claimed the proposed deal was a pay cut as it was below inflation.
Douglas Black, Unison's regional officer and secretary to the trade union negotiators, said: 'It doesn't approach… inflation, let alone begin to catch up with the loss staff have suffered over recent years.'
According to Unison, Cosla had recently given Scotland's teachers higher pay rises, and many councils had budgeted for a bigger settlement.
Stephanie Herd, chair of Unison's Scottish local government committee, said: 'Cosla have said they want to make efficiency savings so they can reinvest in these services. One of those investments should be in the workforce that delivers these services.'
Cosla said it was disappointed the trade unions had chosen to go public on an 'ongoing' issue.
PFfeb2008
