Consultation: Anger on pay but members decide to defend
services first
See full
branch briefing here (pdf)
Members in local government are angry about pay
and worried that the imposed pay cut will hit the low
paid the hardest. However, their priority at this time
is to protect and defend vital public services as councils
up and down the country slash budgets, jobs and services.
This was the message from a consultation with members
across Scotland on the councils' imposition of a 0.65%
pay offer this year with a two years' pay freeze, as
delegates met to consider the next steps and agreed
a plan of action to defend vital jobs and services and
to press for decent pay which values public service
workers.
Branches had consulted members and they were clear
that, despite the anger, their main aim was for a campaign
that will....
· urge all our members in local government to join
with other unions and service groups to support the
STUC "There is a better way" Demonstration on 23rd
October in Edinburgh.
· lobby political leaders with the message that
there is an alternative to cutting jobs and services
· link with branches to co-ordinate a campaign of
opposition to the cuts, and to get out the message that
public service cuts will damage the economy and local
communities and that there is a better way
· keep pressing the employers for a decent pay rise
for council workers through the conciliation (ACAS)
service if possible
· work with the other public service unions for
a decent pay rise next year and the year after.
"Pay is inextricably linked with cuts and job losses
as local authorities axe vital services," said Dougie
Black, lead negotiator.
"Whilst the loss of these services impacts dramatically
on members' jobs it also has a huge impact on local
communities. UNISON as the largest public sector trade
union in Scotland recognises this and is actively encouraging
and strengthening links with local community groups
and voluntary organizations."
The Scottish Employers (CoSLA) have imposed a non negotiated
pay settlement of 0.65% for 2010/11, 0% in 2011/12 and
0% in 2012/13 for all council and related staff. This
represents a pay cut in real terms for all our members
and hits the lowest paid hardest.
The Trade Unions have consistently sought to resolve
this dispute through discussion and negotiation and
laterly were seeking the involvement of ACAS to arbitrate
however the employers have refused to cooperate and
are simply ignoring the established Scottish Bargaining
Machinery.
Despite previous statements from the employers about
how they value their workforce the reality is that they
are treating their employees with contempt.
Click
here for the full Local government briefing
- Story compiled and edited by Kate Ramsden, Communications
& Campaigns Committee
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