2023/24 COSLA Pay Offer Reaction

Council staff ‘not prepared to go backwards’ as GMB recommends members reject COSLA pay offer

Responding today (Wednesday 5 April) to COSLA’s initial 5 per cent increase offer for the pay and conditions of Scottish local government staff, and following meetings of the union’s local government committee, GMB Scotland Senior Organiser for Public Services, Keir Greenaway, said:

“GMB told COSLA bosses and Ministers when we settled last year that our members expectations will be to keep building on the value of their consolidated pay and conditions (see Notes to Editors). This year’s offer does not meet those aspirations and that’s why we are recommending rejection.

“Let’s be clear, the cost-of-living crisis has not gone away. It is hitting the lowest paid in society the hardest and that includes the home carers, school cleaners, and bin collectors that make-up the bulk of our membership. Left unchallenged, this offer also means four-fifths of the workforce would receive a lesser rise than their counterparts in England and Wales, who have been tabled a flat-rate increase of over £1,900.

“Restoring the proper value of our members’ pay and conditions is our priority. The frontline workers who fought hard last year through strike and struggle to secure the first decent pay rise in many a year are not prepared to go backwards again.”

A consultative ballot on the COSLA offer of GMB Scotland’s 20,000- plus local government membership is now live and will run until Friday 21 April.

ENDS

Contact: GMB Scotland Senior Organiser for Public Services Keir Greenaway on 07855 017842 or email GMB Scotland Communications at gmbscotcampaigns@gmb.org.uk

Notes to Editors:

“GMB members in Scottish local government vote to accept pay offer”, GMB Scotland, Friday 23 September 2022, access at: <https://www.gmbscotland.org.uk/newsroom/gmb-members-in-scottish-local-government-vote-to-accept-pay-offer>