GMB Scotland urges Scottish Government to intervene on councils’ pay offer

GMB Scotland urges Scottish Government to intervene on councils’ pay offer

The Scottish Government must get involved urgently to avert industrial action by council workers, according to GMB Scotland.

The call comes after 20,000 GMB Scotland members in the country’s local authorities, including home carers, school cleaners and bin collectors, voted overwhelmingly to reject a pay offer from COSLA.

GMB Scotland Senior Organiser for Public Services, Keir Greenaway has now written to First Minister Humza Yousaf urging him to intervene and help deliver a new, acceptable offer.

He signed a joint letter from unions representing council workers claiming only serious engagement with workers’ concerns will win their support and end the threat of industrial action.

He said the proposed deal was the lowest rise of any offered to local government workers across the UK, adding: “This offer dramatically short-changes council workers in Scotland compared to colleagues in England and Wales at a time when staff are under unprecedented financial pressure.

“It was no surprise it was so overwhelmingly rejected and, since COSLA has failed to find an acceptable way forward, the Scottish Government must intervene to build a new, fairer offer.

“If they cannot or will not then this dispute can only escalate.”

The consultative ballot of GMB Scotland’s local authorities revealed 94% rejected the offer of around 5.5%. The ballot results were announced days after the Office for National Statistics revealed inflation in the UK is running at 10.1% while food prices are climbing by 19%.

ENDS

Contact: Keir Greenaway, GMB Scotland Senior Organiser for Public Services, on 07855 017842 GMB Scotland Communications on 07738486317 or email: gmbscotcampaigns@gmb.org.uk