| UNISON City of Edinburgh Branch |
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6 March 2001 UNISON members vote 'Yes' to pay deal Members of UNISON, Scotland's local government union, have voted by almost 5 to 1 to accept the 14.2% four-year offer from Scottish Councils, it was announced today. A meeting of representatives from the union's 32 council branches heard that council staff, who have been in dispute with CoSLA since August 2000, voted by 31,438 to 6,353 to accept the deal. The offer increases the current two-year 6.1% offer to 6.5% by bringing forward next year's (2002) settlement date, extends it for a further two years, and inflation-proofs all four years' awards. It also adds a flat-rate payment of £500 for next year, which will bring the minimum wage in Scottish local government to over £5.00 per hour. Joe Di Paola, UNISON's Scottish Organiser for Local Government, said "This is a good settlement. UNISON members have by their own action, delivered considerable improvements to the original 2.5% one year offer. It is particularly important that we have got a deal that 'ring-fences' part of the long-term funding of local authorities for proper pay increases. This offer does that by inflation-proofing pay." Dougie Black, Chair of the UNISON negotiators said "We have followed the wishes of the UNISON membership throughout this dispute, and we will now follow their wishes to accept this offer. They have delivered an important step forward in dealing with low pay. UNISON's first target of a £5.00 minimum wage will be achieved in March 2002" ENDS [Note for Editors: The full details of the CoSLA offer are on the UNISONScotland website www.unison-scotland.org.uk/localgovt/lgpay.html. UNISONScotland Local Government Ballot result Question
-"Do you accept the Employers' revised and final offer?" |
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