Strikes to go ahead after workers reject revised pay offer from Cosla

The largest union in local government has said strike action will go ahead after rejecting a revised pay offer that “puts absolutely no more money on the table”.

Unison accused Cosla, which represents all Scottish local authorities, of making an offer that does not truly benefit its council workers, which includes waste, recycling and street cleaning staff.

Cosla’s revised one year offer was 3.2%, and Unison members in 13 Scottish local authorities have voted to strike.

Unison will also be balloting 38,000 staff working in schools, early years and family centres next week.

Unison Scotland local government lead David O’Connor said: “Cosla’s revised offer puts absolutely no more money on the table. They have not moved one iota since we advised them that we are preparing for strikes.

“At today’s talks we told them local government staff are looking for a pay deal that addresses a cost-of-living crisis and that the value of their pay has dropped 25% over the past 14 years.”

Unison Scotland local government committee chair Colette Hunter added: “Cosla have refused our offer to make joint representations to the Scottish government to discuss local government funding.

“We cannot go on like this. We are seeing year on year cuts to local services and we need to fix the serious recruitment and retention issues across local government.

“We know councils are struggling to recruit carers, social workers and school staff.

“These are the essential services we all rely on. Local government can no longer be neglected like this.”

Fellow unions GMB and Unite are expected to make a decision on strike action on Monday.

GMB said its staff spoke with Cosla negotiators on Friday to discuss the revised pay offer, and says its Scotland local government committee will make a decision on Monday.

Keir Greenaway, GMB Scotland’s senior organiser in public services, said the proposed pay offer remains below the Retail Price Index (RPI) and the offer made to council workers in England.

He said: “We are more than halfway through the year without agreement and council leaders have shown far too little urgency from the start of this process.

“Given that, it is particularly disappointing that Cosla rushed to make this offer public even before discussing it with the unions.

“Our member-led committee will now discuss the offer and decide our response but Cosla’s decision to release the terms of this revised offer yesterday before this meeting is no foundation for confidential and constructive negotiations.

“We continue to believe the involvement of the Scottish Government and a joint approach seeking ministers’ support remains the most likely route to a resolution of this dispute and the averting of disruptive industrial action.”

Graham McNab, of Unite, previously confirmed the union had received the new formal pay offer, stating officials would make a decision following a meeting scheduled for Monday.

He said: “It is welcome that Cosla has finally ditched the unacceptable proposal to change the pay anniversary date from April to October.”

He added: “We are clear that the present situation, whereby Unite has a strike mandate across 16 councils in waste and cleansing services, would not have developed if Cosla had properly and seriously engaged with the trade unions at a far earlier stage.

“Whether the new offer is judged to be a significant improvement will be considered by our local government representatives this coming Monday 22 July at an emergency meeting in Glasgow.”

Cosla was contacted for comment.