Unite the union is to ballot targeted groups of local government workers in the coming weeks in the escalating dispute over pay.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: 

“COSLA should hang its head in shame over the derisory offer put to our members which was rejected outright. Inflation and the cost of living is spiralling upwards yet local government workers are being treated with contempt. Unite’s members in local government right across Scotland have their union’s full backing in their fight for decent pay.”

In an earlier consultative ballot 91%, of Unite local government workers said that in response to the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities’ (COSLA) failure to put forward a fair and decent offer by the pay review date of 1 April that they would be prepared to take industrial action. COSLA had made a pay offer of a 2% rise which would do nothing for those on the lowest pay grades now suffering the cost of living crisis.

Wendy Dunsmore, Unite industrial officer said:

 “Local government workers are the unsung heroes of the pandemic. The two per cent offer on the table is nearly five times behind the current cost of living, and that’s a disgrace.  Let’s remember that the majority of these workers are low paid, and female.”