As you will be aware UNISON wrote to COSLA Leaders last week following the outcome of our consultative ballot and in advance of their meeting on Friday 30th April. We were hopeful that they might have factored in the strength of feeling amongst our membership and make an improved pay offer.
However, the SJC Steering Group met yesterday and were disappointed to be told that Leaders had decided not to do anything at all until the outcome of the Holyrood elections were known and a new government in place, at which point they will again ask the Scottish Government for more money for local authorities to improve the offer.
UNISON pointed out that we had been campaigning for more money for local authorities for over a year and there was little sign of movement from the Scottish Government on this issue. We also pointed out that our members pay implementation date has been and gone and any further delay to a pay uplift, and consequential backdating, has the potential to create difficulty for members on benefits and that additionally COSLA need to be cognisant of the fact that they, rather than the Scottish Government, are the employer. Members can only take a dispute with their employer, not a third party, and Leaders need to be aware that two of the three SJC trade unions have members telling them that they are willing to take some form of action.
Your UNISON local government Chairs met yesterday and agreed to issue a press statement. ‘You can read that here:
Stirling UNISON 