Union rejects latest school workers pay offer

A revised pay offer made to striking school staff just a fortnight before their next three-day walkout has been rejected.

Unison held an emergency meeting this morning to explore details of the proposed offer by Cosla – the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities, which represents all Scottish councils – and "consider our position" before deciding its next steps.

Cosla said the two-part offer would give workers at least a £1929 increase in annual salary by January 1, 2024 and would mean the lowest paid local government workers receiving a 21 per cent pay increase in two years at a cost to councils of just under £500m.

Unison however said the latest offer "contains no improvement whatsoever to the one presented to us in April and which members have already rejected".

The union announced last week its members would be striking for three days from September 26 to 28, with 76 per cent of Scotland's schools set to be hit by the action including in Aberdeenshire, Moray and Aberdeen City.

Related: UNISON announces school strike dates

The revised offer came amid a long-running pay dispute between employees and Scotland's local authorities that has resulted in numerous walk-outs.

The union say that unless a significantly improved offer is received by 5pm on Wednesday, September 20, schools strikes planned for September 26 - 28 will go ahead.

UNISON have written to Colsa today to say that “the revision is miniscule and as a result the unanimous decision of our committee is that we reject this offer outright and proceed with strike action on the dates already notified.”

The letter to Cosla points out that the revised offer represents an increase on the previous offer of only 0.17 per cent. For those on the lowest pay the revised offer represents an increase of only £0.01 per hour, effective from 1st Jan 2024. Those working full-time and earning £25K or above are being offered no increase on the previous offer, which has already been rejected.

UNISON Scotland head of local government, Johanna Baxter said: “It is deeply disappointing that it has taken COSLA five months since our members rejected the initial offer to present such insignificant changes.

"We have made very clear that COSLA must put forward a significantly improved offer to avert mass school strikes.

"Members of our Local Government Committee this morning described this offer as insulting.

"It is staggering that COSLA have still not approached, and continue to refuse to approach, the Scottish Government for additional funding to make a meaningful improvement to the pay offer.

"Given the state of local authority budgets we believe this to be a dereliction of the duty to stand up for local government and fight for the funding needed to both properly reward the local government workforce and keep our public services running.”

UNISON Scotland chair of UNISON Scotland local government committee, Mark Ferguson said: “The strike mandate we have is the strongest show of strength by our members in decades – their resolve to fight for the decent pay rise they, and all their colleagues across local government, so richly deserve is clear.”