Wendy Dunsmore, Regional Industrial Officer, brings us an update on the pay deal.
Many members have now received the 2018/19 pay rises which were imposed upon them in this month’s pay slips. From many Unite’s members’ point of view, the increases are underwhelming.
Some low paid staff ‘enjoyed’ a pay rise in the summer of 2018 as their actual pay dipped ashamedly below the Scottish Local Government Living Wage. This took them to the recognised poverty line of £8.75 per hour. And if that position was not disgraceful enough, the councils have now calculated their recent pay rise on the below Living Wage figure, resulting in some workers are now receiving back pay for the whole of 2018 of only £30!
Unite members will remember that one of the main reasons you rejected the pay increase was because it did not address low pay and this absolutely confirms your decision to vote to reject.
Unite continues to push for talks on pay to be reopened following the teachers’ recent pay rise which is 2.5% higher than local government and we will keep you posted of developments.