Unite hits out at Scottish pay imposition

The Unite union has reacted angrily to the unilateral imposition of a pay deal by Scottish local government employers.

It has called on the employers to engage positively to repackage the deal, but also said it may be required to consult its local government members on possible industrial action.

Unite’s lead officer for local government in Scotland, Jackson Cullinane, said: “The reality is that the trade unions had not formally rejected the offer from the Confederation of Scottish Local Authorities (COSLA).

”However, our members had taken the view that they had concerns over the element of a pay freeze; the duration of the offer in uncertain times; and the fact that there was nothing specific to address the position of low paid workers.

”We put it to COSLA that if it would repackage the offer to address these concerns we would be willing to again consult our members.

”We were keen to have further discussions with COSLA on this basis. It, however, has chosen to move in a wholly negative direction imposing a two-year pay freeze when it had initially proposed a one-year freeze.

”COSLA has also slashed what was on offer for year one and have ignored the need to address the significant issue of low pay in Scottish local government.

”COSLA has, therefore, left us with no other option, but to consider consulting our members on potential industrial action in response to this imposition.

”The trade unions, however, would remain open to further discussions with COSLA. It has always been our position and we would urge them to remove their imposition and engage positively in those discussions.”

•The imposed deal is made up of 0.65 per cent for 2010/2011 backdated to 1 April.
•There will be a pay freeze of 0 per cent in both 2011/12 and 2012/13.
•The original final offer was 1 per cent in year one, 0 per cent in year two and 0.5 per cent in year three.