Unite the union will recommend its local government craft membership including joiners, labourers, painters and electricians to reject a revised pay offer from COSLA.

Following a meeting of Convenors and Senior Shop Stewards in the Scottish Joint Negotiating Committee (SJNC), the union will now hold a consultative ballot of its members covered by the offer.  The development means that both the local authority and craft memberships of Unite will recommend to its membership rejection.

John Gillespie, the Chair of Unite Scotland’s Construction Committee said:

 “After discussing the offer in depth, Unite craft representatives have unanimously agreed that this is an insult to construction workers, and to their families, who are the lifeblood of their communities. Craft workers have suffered and this offer is considered a slap in the face to workers who have had to endure years of austerity cuts.”

Steven Dillon, Unite Regional Co-ordinating Officer said:

 “I fully support the decision to hold a consultative ballot, especially in construction where workers have suffered real terms pay cuts for too long. These are workers such as joiners, plumbers, labourers, and electricians who deserve to be rewarded for their hard work not with a pay offer which does not reflect the hard work and sacrifice they have made for nearly a decade now.”