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BRIEFING FOR SCOTTISH LOCAL GOVERNMENT BRANCHES – No 3
The Local Government Conference on Friday 4 April overwhelmingly backed the UNISON Side and SJC Trade Union Side’s position of recommending REJECTION of the employers Final Pay Offer of a 3 year settlement worth 2.5% in each year.

It was the view of conference that the offer did not in any way meet our claim of a single year settlement, £1000 or 5% whichever is the greater and additional annual leave and public holiday entitlements, nor was it in the interests of our members to agree a multi year deal particularly given the current economic climate and the uncertain level of inflation in forthcoming years.

Conference recognised that we have to build support for a campaign outlining why the offer is not a good deal and what it means for individual members. To do this we will be consulting our members through the normal consultation procedures, building support for the campaign and providing branches with the resources in the form of campaigning materials. As part of this exercise we will also seeks the views of members on what type of industrial action can be delivered if the employers fail to reopen negotiations.

This is a hugely important decision that has been taken and underlines the fact that pay is important to our members. It is also the first time for a long time that all three trade unions have agreed a common recommendation that allows us to campaign together on an agreed timetable.

A further circular will be issued to branches outlining the consultation process and timetable which will also include when branches can expect to receive leaflets/posters, stewards’ briefings etc.

Contacts;
Dougie Black, Trade Union Side Secretary,  d.black@unison.co.uk  Mob  07958 121 851
Stephanie Herd, Chair, Local Govt Committee, unison32@btconnect.com, Tel  01294 553 802

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PAY OFFER
INTRODUCTION
The Scottish Joint Council Trade Union Side agreed at their meeting on 14 March 2008 to take soundings from their respective branches/members regarding the employers’ final offer on pay.
This briefing is therefore prepared by the Trade Union Side Joint Secretaries as a document that can inform these ‘soundings’ being taken by each of the unions in formulating our response to the employer’s offer on Pay.

THE OFFER
3 year settlement
2008 -2009    2.5%
2009 - 2010   2.5%
2010 – 2011  2.5%

This Final Offer is the third offer made to the trade union negotiating team. Previous offers both of which were also 3 year deals worth 2.25%, 2.4%, 2.3% and 2.3%, 2.5%, 2.4% respectively were unanimously rejected.
It is worth noting the following points made by the employers;
1        This is the Final Offer being made by the employer
2        If a single year offer was made the value of such would not be 2.5%
3        There is no more money available.
All three trade unions stated that they wished to consult with their membership before responding. The first stage of that consultation process was to refer the offer to the Trade Union Side on 14 March 2008.
In considering the offer the Joint Secretaries would make the following comments;

1.      The offer does not match up to our claim of 5% or £1000 whichever is the greater, is not a single year deal and does not address the annual leave or public holiday elements of our claim.

2.      The 3 year nature of the offer means that there is a significant element of judgement required in predicting inflation levels in future years. At this time the only prediction available would suggest that inflation (RPI) which currently sits at 4.1% will fall to around 3.5% by the end of the year. No predictions are available for future years.

3.      The employers have refused to enter into discussions about a re-opener clause or trigger mechanism linked to inflation as a condition for accepting a 3 year deal. They have offered a ‘comfort’ clause however at best this merely identifies economic indicators that might inform the next round of pay talks.

In responding to the employer the trade union side has to establish whether a trade union side response can be agreed, what the recommendation should be and the timescale to allow for full membership consultation.
NEXT STEPS
Branches are asked to consider the issues raised in this document and report back to their respective Joint Secretary no later than Monday 31 March 2008.
The Trade Union Side is scheduled to meet on 3 April 2008 to consider reports back from the sounding exercise from each of the three unions. If the side agree a recommendation it would be hoped that consultation with members can then be co-ordinated across the three unions.
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