Friday 12 September 2014

UNISON Strike Ballot for Local Government

UNISON Scotland has sent out formal industrial action ballot papers this week to over 72,000 local government members. The ballot will be open from 9th September 2014 until 29th September 2014.

The ballot asks members whether they are prepared to take strike action to force the employers to respect the joint negotiating machinery and return to the negotiating table and improve upon the 1% offer.

The UNISON Scotland Local Government Committee is recommending that members vote YES to industrial action for Fair Pay.

Members are angry that local government is taking the brunt of the cuts. Local government pay has been eroded by 16% since 2007, there have been 39,300 job cuts in local government in Scotland, low pay is endemic in the sector and the employer imposed a below inflation pay increase again this year.

UNISON local government committee believe we need to send a message to the employer that must come to the negotiating table to discuss a way forward.

Following the narrowest of ballot votes (49.78% for action and 50.22% against) UNISON members accepted the 1% one-year offer for 2013 in good faith. However, the employers (COSLA) imposed 1% for 2013 and 2014 as well. The other unions (GMB and Unite) accepted this deal out with the bargaining structures. The employers are refusing to discuss pay with UNISON for 2014, showing a blatant disregard for the agreed bargaining structures and threatening the future of nationally agreed pay awards.

Above all UNISON encourages members use their vote, whether you want to vote yes or no to industrial action.

If members vote YES, the action will be co-ordinated on a Scotland-wide basis and branches will be encouraged to mount local events and stunts.

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