Check your email for your ballot and reject this real-terms pay cut
Last week COSLA gave their pay offer for local government workers. The offer is yet another real terms pay cut—and a significant one at that as the cost of living continues to rise.
Unite have sent a consultative ballot out to all members in local government for you to have your say. This went by email today—texts and postal ballots will follow for members that don’t have an email on record.
We strongly recommend you reject this insult of an offer.
Read about the offer and the ballot below.
The offer
From 1 April 2023, a 5% increase to all , bringing the Scottish Government Living Wage up to £11.39 per hour.
From 1 January 2024:
- Scottish Local Government Living Wage to increased to £11.84
- 2.5% increase for those earning £19,984 to £28,246
- 1.5% increase for those earning £28,247 to £37,674
- 1% increase for those earnings above £37,675.
The salary figures based on a 35-hour working week.
Cost of living continues to soar
Inflation (RPI) is currently at 13.8%.
Food prices are up 18% from March 2022.
Electricity prices are up 66%. Council Tax has been increased across the country, with the average Council Tax bill at a record high of £2,000.
The Centre for Economic and Business Research found that 2022 saw the greatest drop in living standards since the 1950s.
And council workers are to accept another real-term pay cut?
The ballot
Unite are balloting all local government workers in Scotland.
The email is from Unite Scotland (Member.ServicesSC@unitemailings.org) with the subject Local Government Pay ballot – Vote here. Make sure to check your junk mail folder if you haven’t received it. The email is as below.
This is a consultative ballot asking if you accept or reject the offer. The way you receive this depends on what details we have on file for you:
- text message
- post.
It is vital that we have the correct details for you.
To check we do and update them use MyUnite or call the office on 0131 556 9676.
Please use a personal email address as the Council email system has been blocking some of our mailings, so we cannot guarantee you will receive everything.