Three unions to ballot workers over strike

Three trades unions have formally announced their intention to ballot members for possible strike action over pay.

GMB and Unite have joined Unison, to advise Inverclyde Council of their intentions following disagreement by members over the latest pay offer.

The formal notification under the Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992 was received by Unison in August and now GMB and Unite have also formally notified the council.

GMB and Unite members are expected to be balloted from 16 September 2021.

The GMB union will target catering, cleaning and janitorial and waste, refuse collection, recycling centres and street cleansing.

The Unite union will target their strike ballot to members within the waste department, members within fleet maintenance and all schools’ cleaners, catering staff and janitors.

Inverclyde Council Leader Councillor Stephen McCabe said: “While it is disappointing that GMB, Unite and UNISON have all rejected the revised pay offer made by COSLA and that they have decided to ballot their members for targeted strike action I fully respect their right to do so.

“The offer made by COSLA is already more than the Council has budgeted for and was made despite a cut in our core grant from the Scottish Government.

“Scotland’s Councils are not in a position to make a further improved offer without additional funding from the Scottish Government. To do so would require more cuts in jobs and services, which wouldn’t be in the interests of our local residents or Council employees.

“I continue to urge that Trade unions should join with COSLA and Council Leaders in a call to the Scottish Government to provide funding for an improved pay offer.”

Scotland’s councils negotiate pay jointly through local government umbrella group COSLA, the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities.

COSLA has issued an update to ensure employees being balloted and their colleagues are aware of the detail of the full offer being made:

Scottish Local Government pay update from COSLA:

As COSLA remains in constructive dialogue with all bargaining groups, a short, factual overview of the claims received and the offers made to each group is provided below. 

The workforce pay claims:

The Local Government workers’ claim is for a £2,000 flat rate increase to all spinal column points, or 6%, whichever is greater, underpinned by a minimum rate of pay of £10.50 per hour.

The Craft workers’ claim is for an increase in pay of £2,000 for local government craft workers, with all plus rates and allowances to be increased pro-rata.

The Teachers’ claim is for an increase in the range of 3-5%

The Chief Officer claim is for no more or no less than other bargaining groups.

The offer made by COSLA:

The offer to the Local Government workers is:

  • An increase in the Scottish Local Government Living Wage hourly rate to £9.78.
  • An £850 flat rate increase for those earning less than £25,000 annually (this is equal to an increase of between 4.72% - 3.43% depending on current annual salary).
  • A 2% increase for those earning between £25,000 and £40,000
  • A 1% increase for those earning between £40,000 and £80,000
  • A £800 flat rate increase for those earning more than £80,000 annually.

The offer to Craft workers is:

  • An £850 flat rate increase for those earning less than £25,000 annually (this is equal to an increase of between 4.72% - 3.43% depending on current annual salary). 
  • A 2% increase for those earning between £25,000 and £40,000
  • A 1% increase for those earning between £40,000 and £80,000

This will affect staff in these two groups in the following way:

Pay Offer Proportion of workforce
£850 (4.72%-3.43%) 55%
2% uplift 33%
1% uplift 10%
£800 cap uplift 0.05%

The offer to Teachers is for:

  • A 2% increase for those earning between £25,000 and £40,000
  • A 1% increase for those earning between £40,000 and £80,000
  • A £800 flat rate increase for those earning more than £80,000 annually.

Following discussion with Teaching unions a modified offer was made on a non-differentiated basis, offering 1.22% to all staff in the Teaching bargaining group.

Scottish Government Public Sector Pay Policy:

The offer made is in line with the 2021-22 Public Sector Pay Policy set by Scottish Government, however it does provide a greater cash underpin of £850 for those earning up to £25,000 which will include many employees in health and social care, facilities management, support services and craft roles.