Council pay offer 'best possible'

The unions have already staged walk-outs in the pay row

Council leaders have appealed to 200,000 local authority workers in Scotland to accept a two-year pay offer as "the best deal possible".

Ballot papers have been sent out to members of the Unite, Unison and GMB unions over the offer, with the results due next month.

Council umbrella body Cosla warned the package would be taken off the table if staff did not accept it.

But Unison insisted the pay proposal was "not a good offer".

All three unions have recommended that members reject the offer, which would give workers a 3% rise this year, backdated to April, and 2.5% extra next year.

We will be telling our members that increased and longer strike action will be needed Dougie Black Unison lead negotiator

Initially, council bosses had offered a three-year deal of 2.5% each year which was rejected, and the unions staged two one-day strikes.

Speaking about the latest offer, Cosla spokesman Michael Cook said: "It really is the best that can be afforded - despite the spin of union leaders there is no more money.

"We cannot allow employees to be led up the garden path. I do not want to see our workforce suffer the bitter disappointment of ending up with something less than we have on the table today.

"If this is not accepted then there is a long, hard road ahead."

'Major dispute'

Mr Cook accused the unions of refusing to move in their negotiating position.

But Dougie Black, Unison regional organiser and lead negotiator, said: "This offer is not a good offer, especially when inflation is riding around 5%.

"But our negotiators felt that we should put it before our members in a full postal ballot.

"It is clear from employers' statements that they are digging in for a major dispute, and we will be telling our members that increased and longer strike action will be needed to deliver an offer that protects them from the major rises that they have experienced in food, heating and fuel."