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Council workers' wage talks due Councils to discuss workers' pay
(1 day later)
Council leaders are set to discuss the pay of thousands of workers, amid a tough time for public spending levels. Council leaders have said workers' pay needs to be "fully discussed" as local authorities face tightening budgets.
Union leaders have claimed council chiefs are considering imposing on workers a pay freeze of up to five years ahead of the meeting. Union leaders have claimed council chiefs are considering imposing a pay freeze of up to five years.
The trade union Unison has raised concerns with local government organisation Cosla. Local authority umbrella group Cosla declined to comment on whether such a pay freeze was discussed at a meeting on Friday.
Unison said leaked documents suggested a pay freeze could be on the cards. Cosla declined to comment. But human resources spokesman Michael Cook said pay was an issue that would have to be addressed.
He said: "Scotland's councils are not operating in a vacuum - local government is not immune from the economic downturn or the pain being felt elsewhere.
"It is for these reasons - the current economic climate - that the way these negotiations are usually carried out is not fit for purpose this time round."
He continued: "If 50% of our costs are immovable then obviously you have to look at the 50% you have left.
"All things on pay and conditions obviously need to be fully discussed with the trade unions and what leaders gave today was a mandate to enter discussions with trade unions on this basis.
"We would therefore hope to meet them as soon as possible to get the ball rolling."
Unison Scottish secretary Matt Smith said a pay freeze would be a "knee-jerk reaction to financial difficulties", adding: "Cosla leaders would be well advised to back off from any decision to freeze pay at all, far less for five years."Unison Scottish secretary Matt Smith said a pay freeze would be a "knee-jerk reaction to financial difficulties", adding: "Cosla leaders would be well advised to back off from any decision to freeze pay at all, far less for five years."
Mr Smith said a pay freeze would make worse the "serious problem" of low pay among local authority workers, hit staff morale and affect council services. He said it would make worse the "serious problem" of low pay among local authority workers, hit staff morale and affect council services.
Unison, which represents about 100,000 council workers across Scotland, said council staff had received below-inflation pay increases in four out of the past five years.Unison, which represents about 100,000 council workers across Scotland, said council staff had received below-inflation pay increases in four out of the past five years.
The current pay deal between councils and workers runs until April next year, with negotiations on future pay due to start this autumn.The current pay deal between councils and workers runs until April next year, with negotiations on future pay due to start this autumn.
Cosla said it would not comment on a leaked report.