Unison joins Scottish pay fight
- Published: 01 August 2008 14:37
- Author: Jim Dunton
- More by this Author
- Last Updated: 19 August 2008 16:14
Members of Unison in Scottish local government have voted resoundingly in favour of industrial action over this year's pay settlement, joining the colleagues at the GMB and Unite.
A ballot of 100,000 council staff gave 70% support for industrial action on a 36% response.
Union leaders were due to discuss their next steps in the dispute over Scottish Local Councils' offer of 2.5% a year for three years.
Unison, the GMB and Unite had demanded 5% or £1000 – whichever was greater – from April 1.
On Thursday, the GMB announced that a ballot of its 25,000 members in Scottish local government had voted 74% in favour or industrial action.
Meanwhile, Unite's 20,000 members in Scottish local government also came out in favour of strike action.
Dougie Black, Unison's lead negotiator for local council staff in Scotland said the chosen path for industrial action was likely to be a one-day all-out strike, followed by selective action from key sections of staff.
"This result is a clear rejection of an inadequate offer," he said.
"Our members are clear that they cannot afford another series of below inflation pay increases.
"We have a window of opportunity to see if we can avoid disruptive strikes. I hope the employers take it."
Last week, local government unions in England, Wales and Northern Ireland suspended their strike action pending the outcome of negotiations later this month.
