by Kevin Kennedy

COUNCIL workers have rejected a new pay deal from local authority leaders and will ballot today on industrial action this winter.

Members were offered a rise of around 4.2% a year, in a package that Unison has branded a “bitter disappointment” saying their members will hold out for a better offer.

 The offer, made in August to avert the threat of bin strikes, has been backed by members of Unite and the GMB unions and would see council workers including janitors, catering staff, early years workers and non-teaching school staff, receive the payout. 

Council leaders approved the deal, which covers almost all staff with the exception teachers, at their regular meeting at COSLA’s Edinburgh HQ, arguing that the pay offer was the best one possible and that a bigger rise would lead to more cuts in services or job losses. 

 COSLA’s resources spokesperson, Katie Hagmann, said: “Leaders have fully considered the views of our three Trade Unions, including the concerns expressed by GMB and Unite about the cost of living and financial pressures. 

Unison Scotland’s local government lead David O’Connor said: “Just two days ago, COSLA’s lead negotiator Katie Hagmann and the cabinet secretary for local government Shona Robinson assured the union they were committed to a negotiated settlement.  Now, they’ve resorted to some of the worst employment practices by imposing this deal. They should be utterly ashamed of themselves.  

An unnamed source working for North Lanarkshire Council stated: “The 3.6% pay rise isn’t good enough considering the price of electricity gas and food bills. 

“If we accept the 3.6% pay rise, we’re basically accepting a pay cut and because of all the redundancies and retirements, we’re expected to do the job of two or three people but for less money.”

The council employee said they would only accept a 5.5% offer – in line with NHS staff – arguing that all public sector workers should be treated the same and added they would be prepared to strike despite the other unions accepting the offer but that would cause animosity between co-workers 

Unison already has mandates for strike action by staff in street cleaning, waste and recycling in 13 council areas, as well as workers at Cireco – a separate waste management contractor. 

 It also has mandates for strike action by staff in schools and early years in Perth and Kinross, Shetland, Orkney, East Renfrewshire and Angus. 

 It will ballot remaining council staff across the country today.