Branches consult on pay imposition
Branches across Scotland will be consulting
with members as CoSLA imposes a 0.65% pay increase from April
of this year. This forms part of a 3 year pay imposition and the
next two years will see a pay freeze unless members are prepared
to take action in support of a fairer deal.
Branch delegates will take members' views
to a Scotland-wide meeting on 5th October 2010.
Stephanie Herd UNISON has condemned the
action as a "kick in the teeth" to hard working local government
workers, especially the low paid. This comes at a time when chief
officials have received a 2.5% rise and teachers a 2.4% rise and
will further increase the pay gap between those at the top and
the low paid.
Stephanie Herd, who chairs the Local Government
Committee and is part of the unions' negotiating team said, "Imposing
a deal is not the way to do pay bargaining.
"UNISON has made the case that there is
an alternative to the cuts agenda, an alternative that delivers
the quality services that Scotland needs, with decent pay and
conditions for staff."
UNISON has lodged a formal dispute against
CoSLA, claiming its actions are wholly unacceptable to the trade
unions.
"CoSLA had budgetted for a 1% pay increase
this year but have chosen to impose a lower figure than the Tory/Lib
Dem Coalition are prepared to pay public sector workers south
of the border," added lead negotiator,
Douglas Black. "It is contemptible that
they say they value public sector workers. They can't possibly
when they are reducing wages, taking an offer off the table and
imposing something worth less."
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