As you will be aware we are currently balloting members in our Waste and Recycling Services to take action on behalf of all Local Government Workers regarding Pay.
UNISON Scotland will now also be balloting members in schools and the ballot will open during the school holidays and close after the return with any action taking place after the summer break but before the October holidays. For clarity, we are balloting all members employed in schools for the delivery or support of education (e.g. cooks, cleaners, janitors, school admin, SLA’s etc). Members based in schools but not providing school services are not being balloted. Members in EY establishments that are co-located within a school are included in the ballot but stand-alone Early Years establishments are not at this stage. Other local government staff who happen to be located in a school, but who are not directly involved with the running of a school e.g. social workers, are not included.
It is crucial that all member’s contact details are up to date i.e. address, e-mail, and telephone contact numbers. Members can update their details by accessing their My UNISON account or by calling UNISON on 0800 0 857 857.
All other local government members
The groups selected above would be taking action on behalf of all local government workers and will need your support and solidarity.
- Help us get the word out! UNISON is leading the fight for better pay for all local government workers – help share our campaign messages.
- Help us speak to colleagues who are being balloted to stress the importance of them returning their ballot paper – sign up to call colleagues by contacting your local branch.
- Talk to your colleagues in the workplace about the importance of voting yes to take strike action.
- Add our campaign materials to your social media feeds.
- Introduce your colleagues to UNISON – the more members we have the louder our voice at the negotiating table. They can join https://join.unison.org.uk
Questions & answers
- Why can’t I vote online?
Legislation governing industrial action stipulates that a formal industrial action ballot must be conducted by post.
- Why should I vote for strike action?
The current offer is made up of two parts:
- a 5% full year increase on all Spinal Column Points (SCP) from 1 April 2023
- plus an additional, grade dependent, increase from 1 January 2024.
This additional amount would be:
- An additional £0.45 on SCP2 to SCP18 (annual full-time salary of circa £20,933) and the underpinning Scottish Local Government Living Wage rate. This will raise the SLGLW by £0.99 over the course of the financial year.
- An additional 2.5% on SCP19 to SCP43 (annual full-time salary of circa £28,862), with smoothing consisting of slightly higher uplifts applied to SCP19, 20, and 21.
- An additional 1.5% up on SCP44 to SCP64 (annual full-time salary of circa £38,585).
- An additional 1% on SCP 65 and above.
- Why are we asking members to take industrial action?
UNISON local government committee is asking members to take industrial action because:-
- Falls short of the Joint Trade Union’s claim, which was submitted on 26th January 2023.
- Falls far short of the current rate of inflation, which remains above 10%. It would therefore amount to a real-terms pay cut for our members during the current cost of living crises and as such will plunge more of them into debt.
- For those on the lowest pay, falls short of the offer made to local government workers in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland.
- Has a cost envelope that falls short of that which has applied to other areas of the public sector.
- Fails to address other items contained within our claim including any real proposals to move to a minimum rate of pay of £15 per hour.
- Will I get any financial support if I vote to take strike action?
Yes, all members taking strike action will be financially supported by UNISON. Further details will follow.
I am employed on multiple contracts with my local authority – am I being balloted to take strike action in all my roles?
You are only being balloted on your role as an employee working in Waste services, for the purpose of providing services to the running and operation in waste and recycling services.
I’m not being balloted for strike action – what can I do to show my support for the campaign?
There are a number of things you can do to show support for the campaign and it is important that you do so colleagues included in the ballot know that you stand with them.
You can:
- Help us get the word out! UNISON is leading the fight for better pay for all local government workers – help share our campaign messages.
- Help us speak to colleagues who are being balloted to stress the importance of them returning their ballot paper – sign up to call colleagues by contacting your local branch.
- Talk to your colleagues in the workplace about the importance of voting yes to take strike action.
- Share our campaign materials on your social media feeds. You can access these here.
- Recruit your colleagues to UNISON – the more members we have the louder our voice at the negotiating table. They can join https://join.unison.org.uk
Please also see the media coverage yesterday we hope will put pressure on Leaders to improve their offer when they meet today – https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/homenews/23621035.scottish-school-strike-closures-loom-council-pay-dispute-impasse/
Stirling UNISON 