Trade union warns against frontline service cuts

Unite, Scotland’s leading trade union, can confirm that its local government membership have voted to accept the revised COSLA pay offer.

71.38 per cent of Unite’s members in a consultative ballot voted to accept the offer made by COSLA on 21 September.

Sharon Graham, Unite general secretary, said: “Unite’s members have voted to accept the revised pay offer. A minimum increase of over £2,000 for the lowest paid will be a welcome boost to the pay packets of our members during this ongoing cost of living crisis.

“Unite’s members should be congratulated for the strong stance they have taken to deliver better jobs, pay and conditions across all Scottish councils.”

The revised offer represents a minimum increase of £2,006 for those on the Scottish local government living wage, and a minimum of £1,929 for all those above that rate from 1 April 2023 based on a 37-hour week.

The living wage of £10.85 rises to £11.89 an hour under the offer, which is the equivalent to a 9.6 per cent increase.

In addition, the offer commits council leaders to establish an advisory group comprising of COSLA officials, and unions to establish a ‘route map’ to achieving a minimum £15 per hour in local government – a key trade union objective.

Graham McNab, Unite’s lead negotiator for local government, added: “Our members were prepared to take strike action if necessary to achieve this outcome. Let’s be clear that the revised offer by COSLA was only put on the table because of this threat.”

“The revised offer should have been put on the table months ago. Instead, we have witnessed the unedifying spectacle of COSLA and the Scottish Government creating a bigger mess at each stage of this process.

“Unite will also not tolerate any threats of cuts to services in order to fund this pay offer. Decent pay rises should not come at the expense of vital services being cut in other areas.”