Planned strikes across East Renfrewshire schools have been halted as unions consider a fresh pay offer.
Unions, which had planned a three-day walk out of non teaching staff across all schools and nurseries, yesterday confirmed industrial action had been halted.
The proposed eight days of action by bin men and cleansing workers has also been shelved while Unite, Unison and the GMB consult their members.
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The new offer would see more cash for the lowest paid workers, with all those earning up to £20,500 to receive an increase of £2,000.
Workers on between £20,000 and £39,000 would get an additional £1,925, with higher earners on between £39,000 and £60,000 to be given a blanket five per cent uplift.
There will be a maximum increase of £3k for those earning above £60,000.
One extra day of leave has also been worked into the proposal, as has the removal of social care registration fees.
The offer comes after marathon negotiations with council leaders and the First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon on Thursday in which council bosses agreed the uplift in wages would be consolidated, as opposed to some previously proposed one-off cost of living payments.
The offer represents a pay increase of between five and ten per cent for 85 per cent of the workforce.
It does not, however, apply to teachers who yesterday, via the NASUWT union, voted to reject the a proposed five per cent increase in wages, with 85 per cent of members stating it was “inadequate”.
Ms Sturgeon said: “It is only through the collective action of our members in school and early years staff threatening strike action and our waste and recycling workers taking action that we have forced these extra funds out of government and the employer.”
Paisley-based Mark Ferguson, chair of Unison Scotland’s local government committee, said: “Do not underestimate the scale of the achievement for Unison members.
“We have won significant increases from where we started eight months ago. We have had to drag the employer to the table to even talk to us.
“This will go someway to help them through the cost of living crisis, but by no means is the fight over. Unison will now continue its campaign to improve pay and conditions for all workers in local government.”
GMB - which has temporarily suspended strikes in schools and waste services in East Renfrewshire - thanked its members for their commitment to the cause.
Keir Greenaway, GMB Scotland senior organiser for public services, said: “It’s not a perfect offer, but it is the view of GMB Scotland’s local government committee that it’s worthy of members’ consultation and their acceptance, but ultimately our members whose campaigning and strike actions have improved these terms will have the final say.
“In the meantime, we have agreed to suspend all planned strike action so this consultation process can take place.”
Unite is also urging its members to accept the improved deal.
Wendy Dunsmore, Unite’s lead negotiator for local government, said she wanted to acknowledge the First Minister’s direct involvement as a primary reason for the breakthrough.
She said: “The offer on the table is fully consolidated and, as such, there will be more cash in the pot going forward for local government workers.
“It provides a degree of security for the lowest paid with a flat rate offer of £2,000, which is an uplift worth around ten to 11 per cent.
“We now have a credible offer which our local government representatives can recommend to the membership for
acceptance.”
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