150,000 local government workers in Scotland are being balloted to see if they accept an improved pay offer of 3% following two one-day strikes.
Members of UNISON, Unite and the GMB are being consulted on the new offer which was made after their previous "final" offer of 2.5% following the well observed industrial action.
UNISON, the largest union is recommending members reject the offer.
"This offer is not a good offer - especially when inflation is riding around 5%," said UNISON regional organiser and lead negotiator Dougie Black.
He added: "It is clear from employers' statements that they are digging in for a major dispute, and we will be telling our members that increased and longer strike action will be needed to deliver an offer that protects them from the major rises that they have experienced in food, heating and fuel."
Further strikes had been scheduled, but are now suspended pending the outcome of the ballot. This is in marked contrast to the tactics pursued by UNISON for other council workers in the UK outside Scotland, in which they did not schedule future strike action, and instead of letting members vote on the pay offer, referred the decision to the arbitrators, ACAS.
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