SCOTLAND

Council leaders meet to discuss forcing worker pay deal

Jamie McIvor
BBC Scotland News correspondent

Strikes amongst council staff are still possible after Unison rejected the latest offer

Council leaders are due to discuss whether to give staff a pay rise against the wishes of the biggest union.

The pay offer - an increase of either 3.6% or £1,292 - was made to see off the threat of bin strikes in August.

Members of the GMB and Unite accepted the offer. But the biggest council union Unison rejected it and is warning that strikes are still possible.

The next steps will be discussed by council leaders from across Scotland later, at their regular meeting at the council umbrella body Cosla.


Cosla meeting


Staff have been waiting for their annual pay rise since April. The offer covers virtually all council staff across Scotland except teachers.

As all full time staff would get a minimum rise of £1,292, it is worth most in percentage terms to the lowest paid.

The Scottish government made extra resources available so councils could improve on the previous pay offer - which was worth 3.2% for all staff - but it has made it clear that no more money for pay is available this year.
Getty images
The deal covers almost all council staff except teachers


Whatever councils do next has risks.

The GMB and Unite want their members to get the rise they voted for as soon as possible. They represent a large proportion of lower paid council staff. The rise would be backdated to April.

But members of Unison, the biggest union, voted to reject it. The union believes more needs to be done to address what it sees as the long-term decline in the value of council pay.

Unison argues council staff have seen the value of their pay fall by 25% over the last 14 years and says councils are facing problems recruiting staff for some roles.

If council leaders agree to "impose" the pay offer it risks inflaming the situation with Unison.

It has warned of the risk of strikes and may ballot more council workers on action.

Councils have warned using any more of their money for pay would mean more cuts to services or job losses.