Scotland's Local Government Service Group has issued a briefing on the long saga of this year's pay claim.

"At this point there is no way of knowing when a settlement will be achieved", says the briefing but when it is, pay will be backdated.

"The position is a role reversal from the last pay negotiations where UNISON rejected the offer whilst the two unions accepted the offer", the briefing adds. Then UNISON ran a ballot that ended up with industrial action.

"The other two unions had on that occasion respected UNISON's position and waited until the industrial action by UNISON was concluded".

The TGWU and GMB were conducting ballots on taking industrial action as we went to press but the timescales were as yet unclear.

The original claim set out by UNISON was for:-

• 5% from 1 April 2004.

• 5% from 1 April 2005.

• 5% from 1 April 2006. This to be underpinned by a Minimum Wage of £6. 60 per hour as at 2006.

In February, in conjunction with the other unions, the final claim became:-

• Flat rate of £1000 underpinned by a Minimum Wage of £6:00 per hour from 1 April, 2004.

• 5% from 1 April 2005. The claim was lodged with the Employers on the 25th February, 2004.

The offer

On 7th June, 2004 the employers responded to the trade union side's pay claim with a first and final offer as set out below:-

• 2.95% from 1April 04

• 2.95% from 1 April 05

The Consultation

UNISON members were consulted via branch ballots and meetings during June this year. The result was a two to one vote for acceptance.

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