On 1 November, Unite issued a consultative ballot to all members to ask if they accept or reject COSLA’s revised pay offer—shown below. This ballot will come out by email if we have one on the system for you—check your contact details are correct using MyUnite or calling the office on 0131 556 9676.
You must return the ballot by Friday 12 November.
Industrial action is postponed to allow the ballot to take place.
Unite recommends you accept the offer—more on this below.
Industrial action ballot
Prior to the revised offer, across Scotland, 86.7% of our members voted in favour of industrial action. However, due to the Tories’ Trade Union Act 2016, there is a requirement to get a 50% turnout.
Unite achieved this in 11 local authorities—in Edinburgh this was only for Fleet Maintenance; the turnout was not met for the ballot for staff in Waste and Cleansing and schools FM.
Unite achieved a mandate to strike in
- Angus
- Argyll & Bute
- Clackmannanshire
- Dundee
- East Ayrshire
- East Renfewshire
- Fife
- South Ayrshire
- Stirling
- The City of Edinburgh — Fleet Maintenance only
- West Lothian.
Unison and GMB both received a mandate in 5 local authorities.
Get ballot ready!
To get a mandate for action it is crucial that we have the correct
- contact details
- workplace location
- job title
for you. We also need the right permissions to contact you.
If you are at all unsure whether these are correct, check and update them using MyUnite or by calling the office on 0131 556 9676.
Consultative ballots, which ask your opinion—like the current one, can be by email or post.
Industrial action ballots, which ask if you want to take action, must be by post so it is vital that we have the right address for you. This is due to the Tory’s anti-union laws.
Current actions
GMB in Glasgow have been on strike since 1 November, with their members today calling for a ballot to look to continue the strike.
GMB members are striking for the COSLA pay offer, as well as 14 other conditions specific to Glasgow.
COSLA’s revised offer
A settlement that runs for the period 1 April 2021 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 underpinning minimum rate of £9.78 per hour
Backdate implementation to 1 January 2021.
A commitment to discuss professional fees including SSSC outwith the settlement
All nationally negotiated allowances uplifted by 2% but excluding First Aid Allowance
Remain committed to parity of award across all bargaining groups
Agreed to explore a commitment to exploring ways in which to achieve a no-detriment reduction in the working week
Unite’s recommendation
Unite uneasily recommend accept. Unite’s campaigning on pay is not just for one year—and there is work to be done for the coming year:
- the 2022 pay claim is to be submitted by the end of November 2021
- Unite is determined to have the 2022 settlement by 1 April—this puts pressure on councillors seeking election in May 2022.
Unite welcomes aspects of the new offer such as the increased base rate and commitments to explore
- a reduced working week with no loss of pay
- payment of registration fees, such as SSSC, so workers don’t bear these costs.
Pay increase
Those on spinal column point 42 and below would get a flat rate £1033.79 uplift.
Workers from
- spinal column point 43 (GR5) to 74 (GR8) get a total increase of 2.5%
- spinal column point 74 and above increase by 1.25%.
This deal would bring the bottom of grade
- 1 up to £9.92 per hour – £18,617.03 annually – an increase of 5.81%
- 4 up to £10.78 per hour – £20,251.03 annually – an increase of 5.32%
- 5 up to £12.22 per hour – £22,956.03 annually – an increase of 4.67%
- 7—top of 6—up to £17.10 per hour – £32,113.68 annually.
At the top of the scale, the top of grade 12 would get an increase of £1,065.45 (1.25%).