More council strikes on horizon as workers vote on new offer

Published on Saturday 11 October 2008 11:21

THE threat of further council strikes looms after union leaders recommended their members to reject the latest pay offer.

Unison plans to ballot all 100,000 of its Scottish council worker members on the pay deal following a union meeting in Glasgow yesterday.

Scotland's councils increased their previous pay offer from 2.5 per cent to 3 per cent, but union bosses say the below-inflation deal is unacceptable.

If the deal is rejected by members, it is likely that more strike action will follow the two one-day strikes already carried out by council workers in recent months.

Unison Regional Officer and lead negotiator, Dougie Black, said: "It is clear our activists do not accept that this offer is good enough. Our members, like others are suffering from the effects of the economic downturn.

"The recent increases in inflation – especially in basic necessities like food and fuel – impact particularly hard on low-paid members and a 3 per cent increase does not deliver the kind of help they need."

The results of the strike poll will be declared in early November.