COUNCIL staff in Argyll and Bute are to be balloted by a union on a strike over pay, it has been announced.
UNISON, which represents 80,000 workers in all 32 councils across Scotland, has announced the action after a three per cent offer by COSLA (Convention of Scottish Local Authorities).
The union has said that household budgets “remain under pressure, with inflation, rent, council tax and energy bills all set to rise”.
Strike ballots are reportedly due to be issued on Thursday, May 1.
UNISON Scotland co-lead for local government, David O’Connor, said: “This pay offer is at best a thinly veiled pay cut. After years of below- inflation pay awards, council wages have plummeted by a fifth. This pitiful offer only adds insult to injury to these essential workers.
“Council staff work tirelessly to keep local services running. They deserve better. A pay rise that leaves many people struggling financially won’t help local authorities hold onto their workforce. COSLA should think again and come back with an improved offer.”
UNISON Scotland local government chair Susanne Gens said: “This offer is simply not good enough. Energy bills are through the roof and rent and council tax are soaring. This inadequate pay offer forces council staff into impossible situations
just to try to balance household bills.
“This offer came just before the Scottish Government offered health workers 4.25 per cent. Council staff are no less valuable and deserve a fair pay settlement that reflects the essential services they provide.”
An Argyll and Bute Council spokesperson said: “We are keen to see negotiations continue at a national level through COSLA with the trade unions.”
A COSLA spokesperson said: “In February, following early negotiations, COSLA made an offer of three per cent to the Scottish Joint Council (SJC) unions representing the majority of the Scottish Local Government workforce.
“Sadly, this was rejected outright by the unions without giving their members an opportunity to vote on the offer. Instead, the unions chose to ask their members to consider industrial action in
pursuit of a higher pay offer. “The current offer was made early in the negotiations process, as requested by our unions, and remains on the table. It’s the best possible offer within the funding we
have available.
“We implore our unions to fully consult their members on the current pay offer rather than immediately seeking to escalate to damaging industrial action.”
Andrew Galloway, Local Democracy Reporter
