28-11-08 “Pay Matters” update

Please find below news regarding the annual meeting of the Scottish Joint Council.

As everyone will now be aware GMB and UNITE members voted to reject the new offer – we were unable to reach a joint Trade Union position to respond to the Scottish Employers. The indications from the employers are that they seem unwilling to reopen negotiations with GMB or UNITE. The (Glasgow) Herald lead recently with the news that Glasgow City Council are moving to implement the pay award (3%) recently accepted by UNISON members – it is likely other Councils will follow.

Stephanie Herd will approach NAC Personnel / Payroll to ask their intentions – in the absence of a joint Trade Union position but in light of what Glasgow City Council are doing. The implementation of backdating pay is made more complicated with the various calculations for those employees in detriment relating to pay and “terms and conditions”.

UNISON itself is to review Nationally, Regionally and locally the Strike Action, looking at our methods and tactics, how we negotiated etc. Congratulations are again given that as a Trade Union we in North Ayrshire helped alter the unchangeable “final offer” significantly by reducing the deal from three years to two years and coaxing out an extra 0.5%.

All further updates will be posted as soon as they are received.

The Outcome of the Ballot on Pay

51.15% in favour

48.85% to reject

(Turnout was approx. 42,000 out of 95,000 papers issued)

Although the other unions have still to announce, the decision by Unison members, who are the vast majority of Scottish council staff affected by the claim, means that the pay dispute is over for this year, and for next. We must live with the employers' two year offer of 3% from April 2008, and 2.5% from April 2009. Although we argued for rejection on the basis that this did not achieve our aspirations for our low paid members, we have to accept that a democratic decision has been made. There are many reasons for the caution of the majority: worries about economic recession and its consequence on jobs, and the fact that Christmas is almost upon us, are probably major ones. The news will come as a disappointment to the many members in North Ayrshire who were prepared to fight on for a decent settlement. However, our upset should be tempered by recognition of what has been achieved: the last "final offer" represents a significant increase on the original "final offer" (several "final offers" ago!) which was over three years, and proves that when we are determined and we know our cause is right, we can achieve unity of purpose and action. We have not been defeated and our organisation is now stronger than it was with an increase by about 10% on our membership since the dispute started in July.

We are still here, and our work as a trade union goes on: representing people individually and collectively in their workplaces and ensuring that health and safety issues, workplace bullying, individual grievances, sickness absence representation etc etc, goes on.  With the strong show of support of our members locally throughout this campaign we are now a stronger branch more able to deal with the challenges that lie ahead.

Colin Turbett, Branch Chairperson, 12th November 2008

Stephanie Herd, Chair of UNISONs Local Government Committee -
“It was clear from employers statements that they had become entrenched. In accepting this offer and improving our members basic pay until 2010, UNISON and the employers have the opportunity to look at ways of tackling low pay in local government without the backdrop of a dispute. This should be the start of constructive and meaningful discussions on pay for the future not simply the end of a hard fought bitter dispute.”