By Chris Bartter

UNISON members in Careers Scotland have agreed to accept a commitment from Scottish Enterprise to a new pay system and called off their planned strike action.

Staff had voted by nearly two to one for strike action, after taking action short of a strike for some weeks. They were due to strike on 8 September. Meetings at workplaces across Scotland voted on a deal thrashed out in long meetings between UNISON and Scottish Enterprise.

The two sides have agreed to introduce an interim pay deal for next year, and to negotiate a new Performance Related Pay scheme to be introduced from 2007.

Both the 'hybrid' pay deal to be agreed for 2006 and the new system will comprise across the board and performance related elements. These principles were a crucial part of the union's demands.

Joe Di Paola, UNISON's Scottish Organiser (Bargaining), said. "By sticking together and taking the action they have, Careers Scotland members have secured the commitment of Scottish Enterprise to the introduction of a fair and modern pay system, in line with the principles adopted by other public sector employers.

"They also have Scottish Enterprise committed to agreeing this with the unions rather than imposing it as they did previously. This has to be seen as a great victory for the members."

James Corry, Branch Secretary for UNISON's Scottish Enterprise Branch said, "Hopefully this can be the start of rebuilding the trust that has been lost between Scottish Enterprise and its staff in Careers Scotland.

"Staff have been prepared to trust the commitments from Scottish Enterprise. Now it is a matter of Scottish Enterprise delivering on those commitments."

Careers Scotland became part of Scottish Enterprise in April 2002. SE operated its performance related pay scheme with existing staff for the last ten years but UNISON believes it is divisive and has not been modernised in keeping with recommendations in governmental reports.

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