Council leaders have agreed to lift a pay cap on local authority chief executives despite making deep spending cuts and raising council tax.
They have axed the curb despite a deal with the Scottish Government to limit rises for the better off.
Scotland was hit by a wave of strike action by council staff last year over a bitter pay dispute.
The industrial action led to Edinburgh becoming an international laughing stock after streets were left overflowing with rubbish.
The strike ended after the SNP/Green Government provided more cash which ensured every staff member got at least £1900.
However, any rise for staff on £60,000 or more was capped at £3,000.
The Record can reveal council chiefs have lifted the cap to ensure the highest paid will get a five per cent hike.
Under the previous deal, a council chief executive on £120,000 a year would have received £3,000, but will now get £6,000.
Keir Greenaway, a Senior Organiser at the GMB Scotland trade union, said: "COSLA’s decision is a shameful act by Scotland’s out-of-touch public sector leaders to feather the nests of the highest paid at the expense of the frontline workers struggling through the cost-of-living crisis to deliver local public services savaged by cuts. To our members, this can only be regarded as a kick in the teeth.
“By imposing this, COSLA has undermined the settlement they reached with trade unions and the whole process of negotiation. This has done irreparable damage to what trust remained between the workforce and COSLA.
“For councils to find money to further increase pay for the highest paid council officials, whilst GMB members are facing cuts to the services they are trying to deliver to communities is a reckless act. Efforts should be focussed on securing funding to protect services and to properly fund a decent pay rise in 2023/24 for the frontline workers hit hardest by the cost of living crisis.”
A spokesperson for COSLA, which represents councils, said: “Scotland’s Chief Executives and Chief Officials do an extremely challenging and important job and are entitled to be fairly remunerated for their efforts.
“In many areas of Scotland, Councils are the biggest employer and main provider of a wide range of essential services locally.
“The pay increase for senior officers this year is five per cent – no better or worse than other Council employees.
“Scotland’s Council Leaders at their meeting on Friday decided that there should be no cap in the pay offers to these officials and managers. This recognises the critical jobs they do managing the delivery of our essential services.”
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