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Unison members accept pay offer Unison members accept pay offer
(10 minutes later)
Unison members in Scotland's councils have voted to accept a pay deal. Unison members in Scotland's local authorities have voted to accept the latest local government pay offer.
Local authority workers were sent ballot papers seeking their view of the latest local government pay offer by Cosla of 3% for 2008 and 2.5% for 2009. Council workers were sent ballot papers by the union seeking their view of Cosla's pay deal of 3% for 2008 and 2.5% for 2009.
Unison had recommended that members reject the offer. However, members voted by a narrow majority to accept. Unison had recommended that the offer should be rejected. However, members voted by a narrow majority to accept.
The ballot covered 100,000 members working for Scotland's 32 local councils, local joint valuation boards and fire and rescue staff. Ballot papers were also sent out to members of the Unite and GMB unions, with the results due this month.
Ballot papers were also sent out to members of the Unite and GMB unions over the offer, with the results due this month. The Unison ballot covered 100,000 members working for Scotland's 32 local councils, local joint valuation boards and fire and rescue staff.
'Not good'
Council umbrella body Cosla had warned the package would be taken off the table if staff did not accept it.Council umbrella body Cosla had warned the package would be taken off the table if staff did not accept it.
Unison regional organiser Dougie Black said the closeness of the result gave a clear message to local authorities that staff were unhappy with the present pay offer.Unison regional organiser Dougie Black said the closeness of the result gave a clear message to local authorities that staff were unhappy with the present pay offer.
"This offer is not good but circumstances have led to our members drawing this dispute to a close," he said."This offer is not good but circumstances have led to our members drawing this dispute to a close," he said.
"They have made a pragmatic decision based on the perilous state of local government finance, the unsettled wider economy and the fact that Christmas is almost upon us.""They have made a pragmatic decision based on the perilous state of local government finance, the unsettled wider economy and the fact that Christmas is almost upon us."
Initially, Cosla had offered a three-year deal of 2.5% each year which was rejected, and the unions staged two one-day strikes.Initially, Cosla had offered a three-year deal of 2.5% each year which was rejected, and the unions staged two one-day strikes.
Stephanie Herd, chair of Unison's local government committee, urged employers to use the result as a starting point for "constructive and meaningful discussions on pay for the future not simply the end of a hard fought bitter dispute". Stephanie Herd, chairwoman of Unison's local government committee, urged employers to use the result as a starting point for "constructive and meaningful discussions on pay for the future, not simply the end of a hard fought bitter dispute".