Edinburgh, Scotland- A wave of strikes across waste services and schools in Scotland have been called off after a credible new pay offer.
Waste service members and non-teaching education roles were set to walk out next week, but talks with First Minister Nicola Sturgeon ended in an offer that could put an end to the strikes.
The Unison, GMB and Unite unions confirmed on Friday they had suspended their industrial action while they consult their members on the new offer, and that they are recommending the deal be accepted.
“Unite wants to acknowledge the First Minister’s direct involvement as a primary reason for the breakthrough. The offer on the table is fully consolidated and as such there will be more cash in the pot going forward for local government workers.
It provides a degree of security for the lowest paid with a flat rate offer of £2 000 (US$2 301) which is an uplift worth around 10 to 11 percent. We now have a credible offer which our local government representatives can recommend to the membership for acceptance.
The new offer consists of a flat rate fully consolidated offer of £2 000 for those earning up to £20 500 (US$23 587), equivalent to an increase of about 10 to 11 percent for the lowest paid, estimated to make up about 18 percent of the total workforce.
It further includes a similarly consolidated £1 925 (US$2 214) offer for those earning up to £39 000, (US$44 869) the equivalent to an increase of 8 percent for those earning about £24 000 (US$27 612),” said Wendy Dunsmore, Unite’s lead negotiator for local government.
In addition, Johanna Baxter, Unison’s head of local government, said the offer was a victory for union members.
“It is only through the collective action of our members in school and early years staff threatening strike action, and our waste and recycling workers taking action, that we have forced these extra funds out of government and the employer. Our members’ message was clear and unequivocal, Unison’s local government members are no longer prepared to be treated as the poor relations of the public sector. They will stand up, speak up and organize to win change together,” said Baxter.
Prior to Friday’s agreement, unions had rejected an improved pay offer on Monday, saying it failed to benefit the lowest-paid staff, and warned of a winter of discontent.
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