Scots workers urgently need a real terms wage rise to help them through the cost of living crisis, unions have warned.
It comes as research by the Scottish Trade Unions Congress (STUC) found that average take home pay in Scotland is lower than the rest of the uk.
It said median pay in Scotland was now lower than the UK average - with pay falling in nominal terms since January 2022.
Roz Foyer, STUC general secretary, said: "Workers in Scotland can now, on average, expect to take home less money each month when compared to others across the UK.
"For this to happen at any time is stark. For it to happen during the gravest cost-of-living crisis we’ve seen for generations is unforgivable.
"The Scottish Government must give Scotland’s public sector workers the cost of living pay increase they deserve.
"Our research has shown that, on average, government inaction on council worker pay has cost workers £4000 since 2010 with 55 per cent of council workers earning below £25,000.
"Now more than ever, government should be standing by our pandemic heroes giving them their overdue and much warranted public sector pay rise."
Pat Rafferty, STUC also warned Glasgow City Council to “get your act together” over unresolved equal pay disputes.
Some jobs - predominately held by women - were paid less per hour than roles typically held by men, despite being in the same pay grade.
A £500 million settlement was agreed in 2019 but unions said many staff were still being paid unfairly.
Strike action by female council workers in Glasgow was cancelled earlier this month after unions agreed a deal with the city council.
Rafferty told the city council to pay the public sector workers immediately without further delays.
Speaking in Aberdeen at the annual STUC Congress, he said: “Over the last decade, they have faced real terms pay cuts. They are undervalued, underpaid and under immense strain.
“They deserve a real terms pay rise and Glasgow City Council, you better get your act together – pay all outstanding pay claims without any further delays.”
Further strike action could occur over pay disputes as members of the Scottish Secondary Teaching Association (SSTA) rejected a pay offer.
It is understood about 83 per cent of members are prepared to strike if the dispute is not settled.
The offer proposed a 1.22 per cent increase from April last year and a further one per cent rise from January 2022.
Rafferty warned the cost-of-living crisis will push millions of families into poverty without a real terms pay increase.
He said: The cost-of-living crisis we are facing will, and is, causing despair for millions of people who will struggle to afford the huge increases in the price of food, fuel and energy bills as well as a hike to national insurance.”
He also called for a wind tax to be imposed on energy bosses who are “reaping the benefits” of oil and gas cost increases.
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