| **Click
here for full ballot result and new Branch Briefing (13
Nov) |
Scottish local government members accept a two year
pay deal
| 'UNISON is a democratic organisation; we have
consulted all our members and respect their decision.
The closeness of the result is a clear message to
local authorities that staff are unhappy with the
present pay offer.' |
12 Nov 2008: UNISON members in Scotland’s
councils have voted to accept a two year pay deal. Ballot
papers were issued to nearly 100,000 UNISON members
seeking their view of the latest local government pay
offer by CoSLA of 3% for 2008 and 2.5% for 2009. The
ballot covered members working for Scotland’s
32 local councils, local joint valuation boards and
fire and rescue staff. In a very close result, UNISON
members have voted by a narrow majority to accept the
offer.
It is UNISON’s view that this is a poor offer,
significantly below the present rate of inflation, despite
the improvements to the previous offer which we were
able to secure following two successful one day strikes.
The strike action was successful thanks to the strong
support of our members and tremendous work done locally
by branches. The ballot result from the major union
in local government indicates that the majority of members
wish to resolve this dispute. UNISON is a democratic
organisation; we have consulted all our members and
respect their decision. The closeness of the result
is a clear message to local authorities that staff are
unhappy with the present pay offer.
 Dougie
Black, UNISON Regional Organiser and lead negotiator
said:“This offer is not good but circumstances
have led to our members drawing this dispute to a close.
They have made a pragmatic decision based on the perilous
state of Local Government finance, the unsettled wider
economy and the fact that Christmas is almost upon us.”
 Stephanie
Herd, Chair of UNISON’s Local Government Committee
added:
“It was clear from employers’ statements
that they had become entrenched. In accepting this offer
and improving our members’ basic pay until 2010,
UNISON and the employers have the opportunity to look
at ways of tackling low pay in local government without
the backdrop of a dispute. This should be the start
of constructive and meaningful discussions on pay for
the future not simply the end of a hard fought bitter
dispute.”
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Previous news
BALLOT REQUEST FORM available from 28 Oct
Ballot papers were despatched on 22 October 2008 to all members working in Local Government in Scotland.
CLICK HERE for the form to request a new ballot paper if any of the following apply:
- you have not yet received your ballot paper
- you have lost your ballot paper
- your ballot paper is damaged or destroyed
NB - Cut off for Ballot Paper requests is noon on 7 November. Ballot closes on 12 November.
CLICK HERE FOR......
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Contacts for Assistance
Trade Union Side Secretary – Dougie Black d.black@unison.co.uk
Local Government Committee Secretary – Tracey Dalling t.dalling@unison.co.uk
Chair of Local Government Committee – Stephanie Herd unison32@btconnect.com
Political Lobbying – Dave Watson d.watson@unison.co.uk
Campaigning and Communications – Chris Bartter c.bartter@unison.co.uk
Local Government Support – Kevin O’Neil k.oneil@unison.co.uk
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The Claim
The Scottish Joint Trade Unions have asked for:
- A one year settlement
- 5% or £1000 whichever is the greater
- An additional 3 days annual leave
- An additional public holiday
Our claim would make the bottom rate on SCP3 in local government
£6.51 – a step towards the £6.75 which poverty experts say is
the minimum needed to provide our lowest paid members with a
living wage.
And the final offer from the employers was:
- A 3 year settlement
- 2008 – 2009 - 2.5%
- 2009 – 2010 - 2.5%
- 2010 - 2011 - 2.5%
What does the employers’ offer mean to me?
Someone on SCP3 with a current hourly rate of £5.99 stands
to gain the princely sum of 46p after three years. We believe
that the current offer from the employers does not meet our
expectations, nor does it meet our claim. Neither do we believe
that a 3 year deal is in your best interests given the current
economic climate.
Let’s show the employers we mean business
The greatest asset within any local authority is the staff
who deliver the services in a professional manner.
Without those staff local authorities would fail to meet the
demands not only of local citizens but also of the council leaders
and the government.
