Pay Update 8 May 2008
Branch votes 2 to 1 to reject pay offer
In a consultative ballot on pay, branch members in local government
have voted 2 to 1 to REJECT the pay offer of 2.5% for each of the
next three years, on a turnout of 20%.
 "UNISON,
along with the GMB & UNITE (T&G) had recommended rejection of this
offer, warning that to achieve an improved offer would require sustained
and significant industrial action on the part of members,"
said Bob Revie, Branch Secretary.
56% of those voting to reject indicated support for strike action
and another 20% indicated that they were in favour of action short
of strike action.
The results of our branch consultation have been sent to Dougie
Black, the joint trade union side secretary who will collate them
with the results from the other local government branches in Scotland.
This will inform UNISON's position for any further pay talks.
Why did the Joint Trade Unions recommend rejection?
We believe that it is a poor offer. Our claim was for a single
year deal, £1000 or 5% whichever is the greater plus additional
annual leave and public holiday entitlements. The offer falls far
short of our claim.
We also believe that it is not in your best interests to sign up
to a 3 year deal at this stage. Especially when there is no opportunity
to reopen negotiations during the 3 years. Inflation is continuing
to rise. Longer term forecasts would suggest that by 2010 inflation
will still be higher than 2.5% and there is growing uncertainty
given the current economic climate.
What does 2.5% mean to me now and in 2010?.
Someone on SCP 3 with a current hourly rate of £5.99 stands to gain
the princely sum of 0.46p after three years. If any evidence was
needed this highlights the fact that we have a low pay issue within
local government and its about time the employers realised this.
How does this compare with inflation?
Local Government workers' pay awards have consistently been below
inflation (RPI) since 2005. Inflation currently sits at 4.1% and
while it is predicted that this figure will fall it is expected
to still be above 3.5%, considerably higher than the employers offer.
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