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Unison members accept pay offer Unison members accept pay offer
(about 1 hour later)
Unison members in Scotland's local authorities have voted to accept the latest local government pay offer.Unison members in Scotland's local authorities have voted to accept the latest local government pay offer.
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. Council workers were sent ballot papers by Unison, Unite and GMB unions seeking their view of Cosla's pay deal of 3% for 2008 and 2.5% for 2009.
Unison had recommended that the offer should be rejected. However, members voted by a narrow majority to accept. The unions had recommended the offer should be rejected. However, Unison members voted narrowly to accept.
Ballot papers were also sent out to members of the Unite and GMB unions, with the results due this month. Meanwile, it emerged that Unite union members had voted to reject the offer. The GMB union's result is due shortly.
The Unison ballot covered 100,000 members working for Scotland's 32 local councils, local joint valuation boards and fire and rescue staff.The Unison ballot covered 100,000 members working for Scotland's 32 local councils, local joint valuation boards and fire and rescue staff.
Unite and GMB represent a further 100,000 workers.
'Not good''Not good'
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. Council umbrella body Cosla had warned the package would be taken off the table if staff did not accept it.
Cosla president Pat Watters said he was delighted with the Unison result.
"This is extremely good news for for us, for our staff and for the people who depend on our services," he said.
Initially, Cosla had offered a three-year deal of 2.5% each year which was rejected, and the three unions staged two one-day strikes.
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".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".
Unite official Jimmy Farrelly said turnout for the Unite ballot had been more than 50%, and about 60% of these members had rejected the pay offer.
"We'll be meeting with our shop stewards to decide on further action," he said.
"We're not happy and our members are not happy with the pay offer".