This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/scotland/highlands_and_islands/8381504.stm
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 1 | Version 2 |
---|---|
Salary freeze call to save jobs | Salary freeze call to save jobs |
(about 7 hours later) | |
Highland Council workers look set to be asked to take a pay freeze to protect their jobs. | Highland Council workers look set to be asked to take a pay freeze to protect their jobs. |
Budget leader David Alston said limited settlements over three years to achieve the equivalent of a one year pay freeze would save up to £8m. | Budget leader David Alston said limited settlements over three years to achieve the equivalent of a one year pay freeze would save up to £8m. |
His comments follow the government's announcement that councils are to receive nearly £12bn next year. | His comments follow the government's announcement that councils are to receive nearly £12bn next year. |
Shane Manning, Unison's Highland branch officer, said the suggestion that staff take a pay cut was "frightening". | |
Mr Alston call for pay restraint also follows three unions representing Scotland's council workers submitting their annual pay claim. | Mr Alston call for pay restraint also follows three unions representing Scotland's council workers submitting their annual pay claim. |
The unions - Unison, Unite and the GMB - which represent 150,000 council workers in Scotland, are seeking an above-inflation pay rise of 3%. | The unions - Unison, Unite and the GMB - which represent 150,000 council workers in Scotland, are seeking an above-inflation pay rise of 3%. |
'Not reasonable' | |
They also want the lowest paid workers to get even more, so their pay would rise by a total of £600. | They also want the lowest paid workers to get even more, so their pay would rise by a total of £600. |
The councils, which are facing budget cutbacks, will make their formal response to the claim in January. | The councils, which are facing budget cutbacks, will make their formal response to the claim in January. |
Mr Alston said: "We would hope to see either a pay freeze or the equivalent of a pay freeze in restraining pay settlements over the next two to three years. | Mr Alston said: "We would hope to see either a pay freeze or the equivalent of a pay freeze in restraining pay settlements over the next two to three years. |
"I think it is reasonable to do that, not least because a pay freeze helps to protect jobs." | "I think it is reasonable to do that, not least because a pay freeze helps to protect jobs." |
Mr Manning said workers were facing difficult times. | |
He said: "To ask them to take a cut in pay is not reasonable especially when they have already agreed settlements for the chief officials." | |
Finance Secretary John Swinney said the £12bn to shared out among council's would have been £174m higher were it not for a funding cut of £500m. | |
He said the cut was "imposed on the Scottish budget by the UK government". |