#YestoFairPay
UNISON Scotland said today that inflation rising to 2.9% is
grim news for hard pressed workers struggling to make ends meet.
The public services union is currently balloting members in
local government on strike action to win an improvement on COSLA’s pay offer of
just 1%.
Scottish Secretary Mike Kirby said:
“Sustained high inflation, coupled with a prolonged pay
freeze, then squeeze for millions of public sector workers across the UK, has
hit families hard.
“Parents are cutting back on food, clothes, even on things
for their children – they are being priced out of basic living. Meanwhile, it
is still boom time for British bankers who are dominating the EU bankers’ rich
list.
“Our members in Scottish local government have seen the value of their pay fall by more than 10% in the last three years. They have been offered just 1%, despite inflation now being almost 3%. No wonder they are angry.
“They deserve fair pay and a commitment to annual rises in
the Living Wage. This would also boost local economies. Putting money into
people’s pockets so they can get out and spend makes good economic sense.”
ENDS
Notes to editors:
1. UNISON is Scotland’s largest trade union representing
160,000 members working in the public sector in Scotland, including staff at
all 32 local authorities.
2. The union’s local government membership includes cooks, cleaners, classroom assistants, housing staff, library workers, cleansing and environmental protection staff, technicians and trading standards workers and early years workers and social work staff .
3. Members whose conditions are linked to local government pay and conditions are also being balloted.
4. The ballot opened on July 3rd and runs to 13 August, with a proposal, if members vote yes, of a minimum of three days of strike action over a seven week period in the autumn. Two of these would be national one day strikes and there would be a rolling programme of one day strikes around the country. Selective action is also being considered.
2. The union’s local government membership includes cooks, cleaners, classroom assistants, housing staff, library workers, cleansing and environmental protection staff, technicians and trading standards workers and early years workers and social work staff .
3. Members whose conditions are linked to local government pay and conditions are also being balloted.
4. The ballot opened on July 3rd and runs to 13 August, with a proposal, if members vote yes, of a minimum of three days of strike action over a seven week period in the autumn. Two of these would be national one day strikes and there would be a rolling programme of one day strikes around the country. Selective action is also being considered.
5. Details of UNISON’s Yes to Fair Pay campaign are online
at http://www.unison-scotland.org.uk/localgovt/pay2013/index.html
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