21 October local government strike suspended

#councilfairpay Following a meeting of UNISON’s Scottish Local Government Committee today, the committee has taken the decision to suspend strike action planned for 21 October and consult our members on new proposals put forward by the Scottish Employers (CoSLA).

The proposals concentrate on three areas of our dispute: the future participation in the agreed bargaining machinery; consolidation of the living wage; and the deletion of spinal column point below the level of the living wage.

The view of the Scottish Local Government Committee is that these proposals represent a significant change to the current award. In line with our agreed procedures UNISON is consulting members on the revised pay offer from the employers and a full consultative ballot will now take place.

The ballot will open on Monday 20 October 2014 and close on Monday 3 November 2014.

More details to follow...

Support council strike on 21 October, says Prentis

#councilfairpay Message from Dave Prentis, General Secretary: UNISON members in local government in Scotland have voted to take strike action due to the employers ignoring the agreed bargaining machinery, the imposition of a pay award and their failure to negotiate on UNISON’s pay claim. The first strike day will be Tuesday 21 October.

I am writing to ask you to take part in the strike and send a strong message to the employers that you will not accept the employer’s behaviour and that you want fair pay. UNISON’s aim is to get an improved offer for you.

Taking strike action might seem like a big step, especially if it is your first time. However, I would urge you to take part, alongside thousands of your fellow UNISON members. If you face hardship from taking strike action, you can seek help from UNISON.

The actions of the employers in ignoring the agreed bargaining machinery and imposing a pay award in April this year is unacceptable and threatens the future of collective bargaining in Scotland on pay. The 1% award imposed on 1 April this year does not keep pace with price increases and is in effect a pay cut. We have been forced to take action as a last resort after all attempts to negotiate have so far failed. We want to get the employers back to the negotiating table with us, but at the moment they are not prepared to do that.

UNISON Scotland: Council pay action plans

UNISON Scotland: Council pay action plans: #councilfairpay Following the ballot vote for action, UNISON Scottish local government leaders have sought authority from the union's industrial action committee for a programme of industrial action over the coming months to include a day of action followed by a programme of geographical/selective action. Branch consultation on action will kick off next week.

UNISON lead negotiator Dougie Black said: "Members are angry about the way they have been treated. Their pay being eroded whilst they take the brunt of the cuts. We urge employers to come back to the negotiating table."

Check back here for updates. http://www.unison-scotland.org.uk/localgovt/pay2014/index.html

It's a YES for action on pay

#councilfairpay Scottish local government UNISON members have voted Yes for action on pay. The ballot which closed at lunchtime today has delivered a Yes vote for industrial action by 53.5% to 46.5%. UNISON Scotland's Local Government Committee will meet in Glasgow on Friday 3rd October to discuss the way forward and a full update with follow then.

Vote YES for fair pay now

#councilfairpay The Scottish local government pay ballot closes on 29 September. I you haven't voted yet, vote YES now for fair pay.

The ballot asks members whether they are prepared to take strike action to force the employers to respect the joint negotiating machinery and return to the negotiating table.

Colleagues in England, Wales and Northern Ireland voted YES earlier in the year and take their second day of strike action on 14 October. It's now time for Scotland to decide. Your vote counts. NHS members in England will also strike for fair pay on 13 October.

The Scottish Employers have imposed a pay award of 1% from 1 April 2014.
And they have refused to negotiate on UNISON's claim for this period which was:

• An additional £1 per hour for all staff conditioned to the Scottish Joint Council scheme.
• Consolidation of the Living Wage
• Deletion of spinal column points below the level of the Living Wage

This action by the employers is unacceptable and shows a blatant disregard for the agreed bargaining structures and threatens the future of nationally agreed pay awards.

The UNISON Scotland Local Government Committee is asking that members vote YES to strike action for Fair Pay

New pay ballot leaflet

A new pay ballot leaflet is now online to download here. The ballot starts on 9 September. Use your vote to say YES to fair pay for local government workers.

• You are being asked to do more and more for less and less.
 • Your pay is worth far less now than it was in 2010, yet you keep services going against all the odds.
 • Your pay is the lowest across the whole public sector.
 • Many of you are finding it hard to make ends meet. You deserve better and we must make the employers see that too.

Join online at joinunison.org or call free on 0800 171 2193

UNISON Scotland: Vote Yes for Fair Pay - Leaflets and posters now online

UNISON Scotland: Vote Yes for Fair Pay - Leaflets and posters now o...: Resources for the Scottish local government workers' pay campaign are now online at http://www.unison-scotland.org.uk/localgovt/pay2014/...

Fair Pay Ballot - Time to start lobbying

As the ballot date of 9 September approaches, UNISON branches are being urged to lobby councillors across Scotland to persuade them that local government workers are due a decent pay rise. A briefing has been emailed to all branch secretaries with action points and a draft letter. If you have not got this, or it has gone astray, email t.hamilton@unison.co.uk or john.stevenson@unison-edinburgh.org.uk for an electronic copy.
     Posters, leaflets and other campaigning materials will be available on the website later this week.
For updates, follow us on twitter @unisonscot, the Fair Pay Blog at http://unisonfairpayscotland.blogspot.co.uk/  and Facebook https://www.facebook.com/FairPayForScottishCouncilWorkers

SJC Pay Ballot 2014

Members in Scottish Local Government will be balloted on a programme of industrial action in support of an improved pay offer in September this year. The ballot will open on 9th September and close on 29th September.

Industrial action options are currently being considered but it is likely that it will start with a day of action by all members in the event of a successful ballot.

This is an important time for our members, cuts to services are a reality in all local authorities, jobs continue to be shed at an alarming rate, terms and conditions are under threat and those members that are left are required to do more for the same or less.

On top of this the Scottish Employers have imposed a paltry pay increase. This has not been negotiated it has simply been imposed!

Pay remains a priority for this union now is the time to give that message to our employers and tell them that we will not be treated like this.

A group has been established to develop our campaign and provide the resources and support for branches to engage with members. Further details will be announced on the website in the coming days.

Vote by 7 July for fair pay

UNISON and GMB members in England and Wales have voted to take strike action over pay. UNISON members in Scotland have till Monday 7 July to return their ballot papers on consulting on whether to move our pay campaign forward with industrial action. Remember to vote.

For more details see http://www.unison-scotland.org.uk/localgovt/pay2014/index.html

Local government day of protest

Council workers up and down the country will be taking part in activities on Tuesday 4 February to highlight the continuing scandal of low pay and paltry pay rises. We deserve a pay rise because we deliver essential services and we are WORTH IT! Members in South Lanarkshire Branch are pictured supporting the campaign. They are WORTH IT!

Fair Pay for Local Government Workers

Edinburgh UNISON members at the City Chambers today

The pay of home carers, roadworkers, cleansing staff, social workers, public health workers, education staff and all the other workers who deliver
Scotland’s essential services is worth far less now than it was in 2010 yet they keep services going against the odds.

Councils have imposed a 1% rise for 2014, meaning these workers will be 16% worse off since 2010 while the top 1,000 people will be an amazing £190 billion richer.

UNISON says Scotland's local government workers deserve better and we are launching a new claim for 2014 - because they’re worth it!