Press Release

Unite calls on the Scottish government to step in over local government pay

Friday, August 15 2008

Unite, the UK’s biggest trade union is calling on the Scottish government to intervene and provide adequate funding to local authority employers to allow them to address the low pay issues surrounding the local government strikes.

Unite members working in local government across Scotland are preparing to take strike action on Wednesday 20th August over a below inflation pay offer.

Workers will be on picket lines throughout all towns and cities across Scotland protesting against a 2.5% pay offer, which with inflation now at 4.6% is a pay cut in real terms.

The strike action will have a dramatic impact on whole a range of important public services in every local authority in Scotland.

With the minimum wage due to rise to £5.72 an hour on 1st October, local government workers pay will only just scrape in above this level.

Jimmy Farrelly, Unite Regional Official says: "Inflation levels are spiralling with food, petrol and utility bills going through the roof. People are already struggling to keep on top of mortgage repayments and rent rises but this pay offer will see our members suffer a huge cut in their living standards.

"The people who are the lifeblood of communities and who are the backbone of this country are being made to suffer while bosses in local authorities are awarded huge salaries.

"Local government workers are the victims not the cause of inflation and should not be made to take the burden. All they are asking is for a fair increase. It is now the responsibility of the Scottish government to intervene to provide adequate funding to local authority employers to address the low pay issues."