Following a barely and poorly revised offer from the employer (CoSLA) through the Scottish Joint Council (SJC) Unite is holding a consultative ballot of Local Government Employee members to gain members views on the new offer.
Members will receive a ballot by email, text or post depending on individual preferences and information available to Unite. The ballot consists of two questions: 1. whether to accept or reject the offer; 2. on willingness to participate in industrial action. The email comes from UniteScotland and is entitled “Local Authorities Consultative Pay Ballot – August 2021“. Please check your emails. It was sent Monday 23rd August. Should you not receive your ballot contact Unite by calling: 01414045424
The new offer comprises:
- A settlement that runs for the period 1 April to 31 March 2022
- An £850 flat rate payment based on a 37 hour working week for those earning up to £25,000; or
- 2% for those earning between £25,000 and £40,000; or
- 1% for those earning up to £80,000
- An £800 flat rate for those earning £80,000 +
- An underpinning minimum rate of £9.78per hour
- All nationally negotiated allowances uplifted by 2% but excluding First Aid Allowance and Distant Islands Allowance
- Remain committed to parity of award across all bargaining groups but cannot guarantee
- Agreed to a short life working group to explore a commitment to exploring ways in which to achieve a no-detriment reduction in the working week but with no commitment but with the proviso of considering effective hybrid models for homeworking and how together COSLA, employers and the unions can provide a programme of support for mental health and wellbeing throughout the pandemic recovery
This offer comes nowhere near our original pay claim and fails to attend to certain aspects, significantly that of professional costs (e.g. SSSC registration) that many of our members must pay in order to remain employed.
Unite’s pay claim is:
- A settlement that runs for the period 1 April 2021 to 31 March 2022
- A £2,000 flat rate increase to all spinal column points, or 6%, whichever is greater (based on a 37 hour working week).
- An underpinning minimum rate of pay of £10.50 per hour.
- A separate, additional payment towards pay restoration.
- An equivalent percentage or, the median paid where the base salary increase is paid as a flat rate, uprating of all allowances.
- No less than parity with other Local Government bargaining groups.
- All professional costs associated with the role to be met by the employer.
- A commitment to exploring ways in which to achieve a no-detriment reduction in the working week.
- An assessment of the pay gap against all protected characteristics.
The recommendation is to reject the offer and agree to industrial action. Should that be the democratic will of Unite members in Local Government an Industrial Action ballot will be initiated with selected member groups.