Falkirk Council: Workers accept new pay deal

In brings to an end the threat of more strikes among targeted council staff across Scotland.

In Falkirk, bins went unemptied and the council recycling centres were closed for several days during the nationwide action.

Unite the Union said that 71 per cent of members had voted yes with just 29 per rejecting the deal.

Unison saw 67 per cent of its members accepting the offer with 33 per cent against, with a turnout of 64 per cent.

Johanna Baxter, UNISON Scotland head of local government said: “UNISON members have spoken and voted overwhelmingly to accept the improved pay offer and we will now press CoSLA to get this money into members pay packets as quickly as possible.

“But lets be very clear – it was only because UNISON members took, and were prepared to take, industrial action that this improved pay offer was even made. If they hadn’t stood up to their employer they would have been forced to accept a derisory two per cent increase.

“It was their collective strength that forced the Scottish Government to accept they had a role to play and come up with more money but it should never have got to that.

“The lesson the Scottish Government needs to take from this is that they need to fund local government, and the workers that serve our local communities, properly and UNISON will continue to lead the campaign for investment in councils and for staff to get the pay, reward and recognition they deserve.”

Kevin Robertson, chair of the Falkirk Council branch of Unite, said: “We’re glad it’s all over, for this year at least. It’s not the deal we sought and it’s far from perfect but we recognise in the financial climate that it’s not a bad deal.

“We’re sorry that it took industrial action to get this result and I hope that the councils and Scottish Government realise that we will do whatever it takes to get council workers a decent living.

“We will not be a forgotten workforce – after all the same politicians, not so long ago, were clapping us on the doorstep and saying how important we were to society.”

The leader of Falkirk Council, Councillor Cecil Meiklejohn, said: “Both Scottish and Local Government, in wanting to provide a fair pay deal for staff with finite budgets, have sought to provide the best package that can be afforded under financially challenging circumstances and we welcome the positive ballot results and await the formal agreement being released to allow us to process the pay award.”

What’s in the deal?

A minimum pay rate of £10.50, which will benefit 12 per cent of the workforce. £2000 incorporated fully into the pay of those earning less than £20,5000 – around 18 per cent of local government workers across Scotland. £1925 minimum increase incorporated fully into the pay packets up to £39,500 – around 85 per cent of the council workforce. Five per cent increase incorporated into pay packets over £39,501 with a cap at £3000. The removal of all SSSC registration fees An additional one day’s leave