UNISON Scotland Statement On Local Government Pay Ballot

Local government members in Scottish public services union UNISON have decided not to move forward to three days of industrial action over a proposed pay raise of 1% for the current year, which they rejected overwhelmingly earlier in the summer. The pay ballot closed on 13 August and resulted in a very narrow rejection of moving towards a programme of industrial action in support of an improved offer. 49.78% voted in favour of industrial action and 50.22% voted against. The union's local government committee met today to consider the result of the industrial action ballot.. A UNISON spokesperson said: "Whilst the result of this ballot means that members have voted to reject industrial action over the current one year deal, there was a substantial vote for a strike. Our members in local government voted by 3:2 to reject the miserly 1% pay offer which is effectively a further pay cut. "The industrial action ballot which closed yesterday provides no mandate for a strike and members have reluctantly accepted the 1% rise for the current year. "Our local government members fear for the security of their jobs and the pressure on the vital services we provide to our communities. "We have faced the loss of upwards of 35,000 jobs local government over vthe last three years." "That's the climate in which our people have to operate under the current Tory austerity policies. "In the last week we have heard that the bulk of cuts to public services are still coming down the line. This is something we already knew. UNISON will now move forward to real push on pay in the coming year. Our members do vital work and provide important services for our communities. They are worth more than a series of effective pay cuts." http://unison-scotland.org.uk/localgovt/pay2013/index.html