 Pay
Update October/November 2008
Branch thanks members
as council set to pay backdated pay rise in December pay packets
In line with many other authorities, Aberdeenshire councillors
agreed at Full Council on 27th Nov to pay this year's 3% pay award,
backdated from 1st April, in December's pay packets.
The move came after members of UNISON, the largest trade union
of council employees, voted to accept a revised and increased pay
offer, whilst members of the other two trade unions, GMB and Unite,
voted to reject. This meant that there could be no formal agreement
to accept. Even though UNISON represents most members across Scotland,
we cannot 'outvote' the other two unions because of the constitution
of the national negotiating body. So the dispute remains technically
unresolved.
However, despite this, a large number of councils across Scotland,
including Aberdeenshire, have agreed to pay the award and it appears
CoSLA is supporting the payments.
 "Our
understanding is that Unite and GMB have still to make their position
clear but, in the absence of any clear strategy as to what action
they have in mind, it would be wrong to delay our members getting
their money in their December pay - especially in the current financial
situation", said Bob Revie, Branch Secretary.
"UNISON was always clear that substantial additional action would
be needed to get any more out of the councils. It was our view that
rejecting with no plan to escalate was a non-starter. We were honest
with members about that and they made their views known in the ballot",
he added.
"Of course we have concerns that the bargaining machinery is being
side-stepped by some councils in paying up now. That is something
the unions and the employers are now going to have to take a hard
look at. UNISON will start the process of reviewing the campaign
later this week."
Thanks
 Kate
Ramsden, Branch Chair added, "Members showed great resolve in the
two days of strike action. We know the ballot presented a difficult
decision for people but be in no doubt that this pay rise would
not have been won without your action.
"We must remember that, without the action, we would have been
tied to a three-year deal of only 2.5% a year - or latterly to 2.5%
this year instead of the 3% that has been won.
"UNISON members in Aberdeenshire were magnificent during the action.
They can be proud of what they achieved," said Kate
Recruit new members
"The only bit that always makes you angry is that they won the
pay rise for themselves and also for all those who are not in the
union or who didn't take the action. Our members have the moral
high ground and this must be built on as we look towards constructive
and meaningful discussions on pay for the future, with a focus on
improving the pay of our low paid members.
"The best way to do that is to get the non-members in your area
to join the union. Remind them that only union members get to vote!"
added Kate
Click
here for an application form.
Scottish local government
members accept a two year pay deal
On 12th November 2008, in a very close result, UNISON announced
that their members in Scotland have voted by a narrow majority to
accept the pay offer of 3% for 2008 and 2.5% for 2009. Click
here for press release.
It is UNISON’s view that this is a poor offer, significantly below
the present rate of inflation, despite the improvements to the previous
offer which we were able to secure following two successful one
day strikes. The strike action was successful thanks to the strong
support of our members and tremendous work done locally by branches.
The ballot result indicates that the majority of members wish to
resolve this dispute.
Ballot papers were issued to nearly 100,000 UNISON members seeking
their view of the latest local government pay offer by CoSLA. The
ballot covered members working for Scotland’s 32 local councils,
local joint valuation boards and fire and rescue staff.
Bob Revie, Branch Secretary said, "UNISON is a democratic
organisation; we have consulted all our members and respect their
decision. The closeness of the result is a clear message to local
authorities that staff are unhappy with the present pay offer."
 Dougie
Black, UNISON Regional Organiser and lead negotiator said:“This
offer is not good but circumstances have led to our members drawing
this dispute to a close. They have made a pragmatic decision based
on the perilous state of Local Government finance, the unsettled
wider economy and the fact that Christmas is almost upon us.”
 Stephanie
Herd, Chair of UNISON’s Local Government Committee added: “It was
clear from employers’ statements that they had become entrenched.
In accepting this offer and improving our members’ basic pay until
2010, UNISON and the employers have the opportunity to look at ways
of tackling low pay in local government without the backdrop of
a dispute. This should be the start of constructive and meaningful
discussions on pay for the future not simply the end of a hard fought
bitter dispute.”
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Ballot on new
offer starts for 100,000 Scottish Council staff
Ballot papers asking over 100,000 UNISON members working for Scotland’s
local councils their view of the latest local government pay offer,
will start to land on people’s desks from 23 October. Click
here for UNISON Scotland Press Release.
The ballot closes on the 12 November so make sure you return your
vote well before then. If you have not received your ballot paper
by 5 November then please contact the Branch Office on 01224 620624.
Branch to hold pay
meeting
The branch has arranged a meeting for all local government members
to discuss the pay offer. This will be held on Wednesday 29th October
at 5.30pm in the Kintore Arms, High Street, Inverurie.
A ballot of members will take place between 22nd October and 15th
November. This is your chance to come and find out more about the
pay offer; how we got here; why UNISON is recommending rejection
and what that will mean in terms of further action.
You are all welcome and we would urge you to come along.
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10th October - UNISON
to ballot members and recommend rejection of new pay offer but warns
more action will be needed
At a meeting of UNISON's local government branches in Glasgow on
Friday 10th October, delegates agreed to recommend that members
reject the latest below-inflation pay offer made by Scotland's councils.
UNISON will now institute a full ballot of our 100,000 members
in Scottish Local Government - which will be declared in early November.
>>>>more
Following our two highly successful one-day strikes by around 150,000
UNISON, GMB and Unite members across Scotland, local government
employers increased their 2.5% offer to 3% for this year (April
08-April 09) - still less than the current rate of inflation. In
addition they demanded that the unions commit to a fixed pay rise
of 2.5% for 2009-10 - whatever the inflation rate.
UNISON Regional Officer and lead negotiator, Dougie Black, said
"Our activists do not accept that this offer is good enough. Our
members, like others are suffering from the effects of the economic
downturn. The recent increases in inflation - especially in basic
necessities like food and fuel - impact particularly hard on low-paid
members, and a 3% increase does not deliver the kind of help they
need. Bankers and fat cats in the city get help - it is time for
hard-pressed public service workers to get that help.
Council staff in Scotland have delivered around £200 m worth of
efficiency savings that councils should share with staff as well
as with council tax payers."
UNISON will also be making it clear to members that it will take
a lot of pressure to get the employers to improve their offer.
Kate
Ramsden, Branch Chair and delegate to the Local Government Pay Meeting
said "We will be making it clear to all our members that it will
take a lot of pressure to get the employers to improve their offer.
The employers are determined to keep the pay rise at the level of
the current offer - if members hope to shift them we need to strengthen
our industrial action strategy and if members vote to reject they
must be clear that they will need to be prepared to increase the
level of their activity. There is no point simply voting to reject
the offer - we have to intensify our industrial and political campaigning.
That will mean more strike action."
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2nd October - Strikes
suspended as unions consult on offer
UNISON, Scotland's largest local government union, said that an
improved pay offer from Scottish local government employers meant
that the union would suspend next week's selective strike action,
so that members could be consulted.
Dougie Black, UNISON regional officer, and leader of the negotiators
said "After two strikes and previous fruitless negotiations, I'm
pleased that we now have a new offer. It is at a level - 3% this
year and 2.5% for next year - that needs to go back to members to
get their view. In the meantime we have agreed to suspend the selective
action to allow this to happen."
Council leaders invite
unions for more talks "with a view to reaching a settlement".
The three trade unions will have further talks with CoSLA leaders
on Thursday 2nd October after Councillor Cook, CoSLA's Human Resources
spokesperson, extended the invitation "with a view to reaching
a settlement" following a meeting of council leaders on 26th
Sept 2008.
In response to the offer, Matt Smith, UNISON's Scottish Secretary
said "We welcome this offer of talks, as we have always said that
this dispute will only be settled by a negotiated settlement which
is realistic and not merely a repeat of the last offer."
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Unions call for meaningful
talks after success of second day of action
The unions have now called on the employers to engage in further
meaningful talks to resolve this dispute before a series of selective
strikes begin.
 "We
are seeking to break the impasse reported in the press. Despite
CoSLA’s claim that the unions refuse to negotiate, we have always
known that the best way to resolve this matter is through a negotiated
settlement. Both parties need to be prepared to negotiate and this
continues to be our position,” said Matt Smith, UNISON Scottish
Secretary.
UNISON points out in the letter that it will also be writing to
Scottish Councils warning them of further selective strikes, due
to begin on the 6 October should they be required. >>>>more
Click here for a report and photos
of the Day of Action on 24th Sept 2008
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