Local government umbrella organisation Cosla has tabled an improved offer in a bid to end planned industrial action bu council workers.
COSLA Resources spokesperson Councillor Katie Hagmann said yesterday: “Following Leader’s Special meeting today they have mandated me to move forward with our trade union partners on the basis ofan offer that raises the overall value to 5% and in addition raises the Scottish Local Government Living Wage to £10.50.
“In doing so, Leaders have reaffirmed the need for a discussion with Scottish Government on how they can support Councils by providing flexibilities and long term funding support.
“This will limit the risk to public services and the impact on communities”.
Local Government trade unions will now take the improved offer to their members, but with inflation currently running at 10.1% it’s far from certain that the offer will be enough to end the ongoing strike here in Edinburgh and industrial action set to take place across Scotland next week.
The Bank of England has warned that inflation will exceed 11% this year and could go even higher.
Strike action began in Edinburgh on Thursday when GMB Scotland and Unite the union members employed by The City of Edinburgh Council took the first of 11 days of strike action.
A GMB spokesperson said: “Waste will pile up during the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. We make no apologies for this. Political leaders are to blame, and if they want to stop these strikes then our members need a pay offer that confronts this cost-of-living crisis.
“Our members won’t accept working poverty as an inevitability. They’re standing together and fighting for the pay rise they deserve.”
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