Council staff in West Dunbartonshire have rejected a proposed two % payrise – however received’t be a part of members of 26 different councils throughout the nation by hanging.
Members of Unite, Unison and GMB unions are set to stroll out after refusing to just accept the provide by Cosla - the physique for native authorities.
Nonetheless, West Dunbartonshire is certainly one of 5 native authorities the place there are not any plans for a strike as staff didn’t meet the 50 % threshold required.
The native authority’s Labour chief Martin Rooney referred to as on the Scottish Authorities to offer extra funding for native authorities, saying: “Over current years, council employees have needed to endure hardship with pay presents not matching their expectations and over time the worth of their pay has been eroded.
“Our council employees don’t need to take industrial motion. They might a lot moderately be at their work finishing up the skilled jobs they're educated to do.
“Taking industrial motion which disrupts very important public providers to native folks is at all times the final resort for council staff. Nonetheless, the price of dwelling disaster has worsened this and for a lot of, it’s the straw that broke the camel’s again.
“Sadly, the council’s main funding comes from the Scottish Authorities, so councils don’t have sufficient sources to completely fund a value of dwelling pay provide.
“We'd like extra funding from the Scottish Authorities in order that, we in flip can provide our employees an affordable pay provide which displays the price pressures they face.”
Dumbarton MSP Jackie Baillie added: “A two % rise when inflation is greater than 9 % is a slap within the face for hard-working native authority employees who stepped as much as the plate in the course of the pandemic. I totally again calls from the commerce unions to convene an pressing assembly of council leaders with the Scottish Authorities and the commerce unions to hunt extra funding to make a good pay provide and keep away from industrial motion.”
Nonetheless the Scottish Authorities mentioned the difficulty was nothing to do with them with a spokesman saying pay settlements for council staff - excluding academics - are a matter for Cosla.
He mentioned: “As it isn't a member of the SJC, the Scottish Authorities can not immediately intervene in pay negotiations, that are for the commerce unions to barter with Cosla.”