BBC News: Council staff set to strike again

BBC NEWS | Scotland | Glasgow, Lanarkshire and West | Council staff set to strike again:

Page last updated at 23:18 GMT, Tuesday, 23 September 2008 00:18 UK


Schools, ferry services and rubbish collections are to be disrupted again as Scottish council workers stage the second strike over pay in two months.

Up to 150,000 members of the Unite, Unison and GMB unions were due to take part in the 24-hour walkout.

It comes after the rejection of an amended offer from local authority umbrella group Cosla to reduce the 2.5% pay offer from three years to one year.

The unions are calling for a 5% increase in line with inflation.

Dougie Black, Unison Scotland regional officer said the employers' offer amounted to a pay cut.

He said: 'The action will send a very clear message to the employers. Your failure to improve your offer after making public commitments to do so has angered your staff.

'Taking further industrial action is regrettable, but we have no alternative given the employer's behaviour over this.'

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