New ballot as Quarriers strike action pays off

The first ever day of strike action in Quarriers - one of Scotland's largest social care charities - has paid off with management coming up with an improved offer.

After consistently refusing to include a flat rate element in their offer, they have now offered £400 or 2.5% whichever is the greater. Following further negotiations a proposed settlement for the year ahead has been reached on the basis of an extra day's annual leave for all and a further 2.5% wage increase from 1/10/07 so members won't have to wait the usual months to get their rise.

Simon Macfarlane, Regional Officer said, "This unprecedented action by Quarriers members shows three things, firstly that when staff in the voluntary sector organise themselves in their union they can win important improvements, secondly there is a genuine funding crisis in the sector and we need to get the Executive and local authorities to fully fund services provided by the sector and lastly, that low pay is unacceptable whether you work for a charity or not."

The improved offer is being recommended to members in a ballot to conclude on 30 May. UNISON has won flat rate elements in other deals in the voluntary sector recently including Enable and the Mungo Foundation.

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