16 October 2008
By David Scott in Edinburgh
Scottish local authority leaders have threatened to withdraw their latest pay offer for council employees after it was rejected by public sector unions.
The Convention of Scottish Local Authorities had hoped an improved package of 3% in the current year and 2.5% in 2009/10 would resolve the dispute that led to strikes in August and September.
A proposed further one-day stoppage involving council call centre staff on October 6 had been suspended after new talks were arranged.
However, an improved offer made by Cosla at the talks has been rejected by the unions involved in the dispute – Unison, Unite and GMB.
Cosla employment spokesman Michael Cook said employers were able to increase the original offer of 2.5% to 3% only by embodying it in a two-year deal.
He added: 'Let me be absolutely clear to the union membership: the present offer is at the absolute limit of what we can afford and if this offer is rejected the whole package is off the table with immediate effect.'
The 150,000 members of the three unions will now be balloted on their leadership's recommended rejection of the proposed deal.
Unison regional officer and lead negotiator Dougie Black said: 'Our members, like others, are suffering from the effects of the economic downturn.'
He added: 'The recent increases in inflation – especially in basic necessities like food and fuel – impact particularly hard on low-paid members, and a 3% increase does not deliver the kind of help they need.
'Bankers and fat cats in the city get help. It is time for hard-pressed public service workers to get that help.'
PFoct2008
