GMB members in Scottish local government vote to accept pay offer easing prospect of further strikes
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GMB members across local government have voted to accept an improved pay offer which should help avoid a repeat of the suspension of waste and schools strikes seen earlier this month.
Following the close of a two-week consultative ballot of its 20,000 plus membership in Scotland, workers backed the offer by a majority of 81 per cent.
It will deliver a flat rate increase of over £1900 for all workers earning less than £39,000 a year - based on a 36-hour working week - backdated to April 1 2022.
"Strike action is not easy, but through sacrifice and solidarity they have secured a significantly improved pay rise to help confront the winter months of this cost-of-living crisis." - Keir Greenaway
It comes after prolonged negotiations between unions and the First Minister
The union said the accepted pay deal marked a "significant improvement" on the previous two per cent, 3.5 per cent, and five per cent across-the- board offers.
GMB Scotland senior organiser Keir Greenaway said: “Our members have accepted the offer negotiated by unions and the First Minister by a clear majority.
"We are now calling on councils to ensure this consolidated increase is put into the pay and conditions of members as soon as possible, because the cost-of-living crisis hasn’t gone away.
“This must also be a point of reflection rather than relief for political leaders.
"Tens of thousands of low-paid workers were kept waiting months for movement on a decent pay offer in the grip of soaring inflation and eye-watering energy bills. That’s unacceptable and can’t be repeated next year.
“GMB is clear that after years of cuts to pay and services, this must be the start of the story in the fight for proper value of our key workers, because this period of intense economic pressure is going to last years and not months.
“Most importantly, we want to pay tribute to our members.
"Strike action is not easy, but through sacrifice and solidarity they have secured a significantly improved pay rise to help confront the winter months of this cost-of-living crisis."
