Trade unions have agreed to suspend strike action after a revised pay offer for council workers was tabled.
Unison, GMB and Unite have recommended a new offer to members that came from talks chaired by First Minister Nicola Sturgeon.
A fresh wave of strikes next week was set to close schools and result in unemptied bins after a previous round of industrial action last month.
COSLA, which represents councils, has been in dispute with the GMB, Unison and Unite unions for months over pay but the local authority group made an offer today that could be accepted.
Under the offer, staff on low incomes would receive 5% or a £2,000 uplift, whichever is the larger amount.
COSLA documents say this would provide 10.2% for the lowest paid and a 7.7% rise for workers on £24,984.
Further up the pay scale the offer is 5% or £1,925, whichever is higher, capped at £3,000 for those earning more than £60,000.
COSLA states: “It will ensure that 87% of the workforce receive no less than £1,925.”
Trade union committees examined the offer, with Unison and GMB out of the traps first.
They recommended approval and will suspend planned strike action while members are consulted. A statement from Unite is also expected.
Johanna Baxter, Unison's head of local government said: “This offer is a victory for UNISON members. It has taken 8 months and the industrial might of UNISON members in schools and early years and waste and recycling workers to drag £600m out of Scottish government and COSLA and into the pockets hardworking people.
"COSLA originally offered 2%, then 3.5%, then 5% - we now we have £600m on the table, which is a 7.5% increase to the total pay bill and 87% of our council workers will receive fully consolidated increases between 5% to 10%.
"UNISON want to get this money into the pockets of council workers now while we continue the campaign to support people through the cost of living crisis."
GMB Scotland's Keir Greenaway said: “GMB has been very clear that more must be done for the lowest paid in local government and this latest offer delivers a significant amount of consolidated money for these workers, including the frontline refuse and schools’ staff that everyone depends on.
“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 and our GMB organisers and workplace reps will be visiting as many workplaces as possible to engage our members on this.
“Most importantly, we want to pay tribute to our members. Strike action is not easy, it requires sacrifice and solidarity to deliver outcomes that make work better, and they have fought long and hard for an improved offer to help confront this cost-of-living crisis.”
Wendy Dunsmore, Unite’s lead negotiator for local government, said: “After the latest round of intensive talks a new credible offer has finally been put on the table by COSLA. Unite wants to acknowledge the First Minister’s direct involvement as a primary reason for the breakthrough.
"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 £2000 which is an uplift worth around 10-11 per cent.
"We now have a credible offer which our local government representatives can recommend to the membership for acceptance.”
SNP MSP Paul McLennan said: “Everyone will be delighted to see a fair pay deal within reach for council workers and the resumption of local services.
“No one wants the disruption that strike action causes so I am pleased that planned action for next week has been suspended.
“Given the financial pressures facing households right now, it is completely understandable that workers and unions have been fighting for a fair pay increase - especially for lower paid employees who I’m pleased will benefit most from this deal."
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