73% of Unite members  in local authorities have voted to reject the 3% pay increase  offered by  the employers side.

Based on this offer Unite said that some of its members would only receive £7.25 per week more before tax in the Borders (Grade 1) compared to £33.66 per week at a Grade 12.

In Inverclyde, those on a Grade B would receive £8.43 a week before tax compared to £31.67 per week more before tax at Grade O.

In this context, Unite questioned COSLA’s ‘commitment’ to parity of pay awards across all bargaining groups as employees earning more than £80,000 were being offered a flat rate of £1,600.

Ann Farrell, Chair of Unite Scotland’s Local Authority committee said:

“Unite members have emphatically rejected the revised pay offer. This outcome was inevitable in light of COSLA’s failure to properly and fairly reward the lowest paid workers in local government.

“The reality for thousands of Unite members was a comparatively worse position as a result of this offer, which is completely unacceptable.

“Unite will now move towards a legal ballot following the mandate we have received from our membership, whereby we will be urging all Unite members to vote for industrial action”.

Unite’s local government craft membership including joiners, labourers, painters and electricians are also being consulted on the revised pay offer from COSLA.