The move comes as local government workers in 26 authorities threaten to strike over pay disputes, with a revised offer now possible.
The Scottish Government has secured additional funding which may prevent planned strike action by local government workers across 26 Scottish local authorities. Finance and Local Government Secretary Shona Robison confirmed that this “enhanced envelope” of funding will allow the local government body Cosla to make a new pay offer to unions, potentially averting the strikes.
The planned industrial action, which is set to start on Wednesday, August 14, and run through to Thursday, August 22, has raised concerns, particularly as waste and recycling workers are expected to walk out. This could lead to significant disruption in areas like Edinburgh, especially during the busy festival season. The unions involved – Unite, Unison, and GMB – have warned that the strike would result in rubbish piling up in streets across the affected areas.
Ahead of a crucial meeting with council leaders on Friday, Robison emphasised the significance of meaningful dialogue to resolve the dispute and avoid strikes. She stated, “We absolutely recognise the importance of supporting meaningful dialogue to reach a fair pay deal and avoid industrial action.”
Robison went on to explain that the additional funding identified by the Scottish Government will be used to support Cosla in presenting a revised and stronger pay offer. However, she cautioned that this extra funding represents the “absolute limit of affordability” for the public purse, and that the funding allocation had involved difficult decision-making.
Cosla had previously made an offer of a 3.2% pay increase, but this was rejected by the unions, resulting in the threat of strike action. Graham McNab, Unite’s lead officer for local government, confirmed that while negotiations were still ongoing, no formal offer had yet been made. He added that efforts to find a resolution before the strike dates were continuing.
The Scottish Government hopes that with the enhanced funding package, an agreement can be reached before the planned strikes begin.
