A union is warning more workers could prepare to strike over pay disputes in Glasgow.
Scotland’s largest local government union is considering widening its strike ballot to more than 90,000 staff in councils and associated services over pay, UNISON has confirmed.
Currently the strikes have been affecting school workers and cleansing staff, but now all council members of the union could take part in industrial action.
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The move comes after they overwhelmingly rejected Cosla’s latest pay offer in a consultative ballot a week ago. The current offer from the employer organisation includes an hourly uplift of £0.67 or a 3.6% increase, whichever is higher.
However, the union says this falls short of expectations given the 25% real-terms pay cut over the past 14 years.
UNISON says it will take several weeks to set a firm timetable, but the intention is to ask all council workers it represents in Scotland if they are willing to strike over pay.
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UNISON Scotland local government committee chair Colette Hunter said: “Thousands of council workers have overwhelmingly rejected COSLA’s pay offer.
“They are demanding a fair increase to prevent their pay from consistently lagging behind and to ensure their wage rise aligns with other sectors of the economy.
“They are outraged that the current offer falls significantly short of their pay claim, and is well below the 5.5% being offered to their NHS colleagues.”
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UNISON Scotland local government lead David O’Connor said: “Council staff provide essential services that keep society running. They are simply asking for a fair and equitable pay increase.”
“Councils are currently in crisis. They face significant recruitment challenges as workers are expected to do more with fewer resources and lower wages.
“This situation places immense pressure on both the workers and the services they deliver. The only viable solution is to grant these dedicated staff the pay rise they rightfully deserve.”
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