Thousands of Lanarkshire key workers who played a vital role during the pandemic are now living on the breadline due to the cost of living crisis.
A study by the GMB union revealed that 7187 key workers in South Lanarkshire are currently earning under £25,000, meaning they are being hit hard by the current financial situation.
The union claim these figures prove that a proposed pay increase will not be able to cover the escalating costs of food, utility bills and fuel.
A total of 51.4 per cent of Scotland’s 200,000 council workers now earn less than £25,000 a year for a 37-hour week.
GMB Scotland senior organiser, Keir Greenaway, told Lanarkshire Live : “The biggest cost-of-living crisis in over 30 years could turn into a catastrophe for tens of thousands of low-paid workers in local government.
“The two per cent pay increase on the table from council bosses won’t amount to more than a tenner a week for the likes of school cleaners and caterers, cleansing workers, and home carers.
“Key workers are already feeling the pain and with the prospect of further increases to already eye-watering energy costs when we head into the cold winter months, more and more workers will go from the frontline to below the breadline.
“That’s an appalling prospect and one GMB won’t leave unchallenged.”
The union said members have rejected the two per cent offer, made by councils via their umbrella group Cosla, and are prepared to take strike action.
Neil Cowan of the Poverty Alliance, which helps firms to become Living Wage employers, said: “Politicians say work is a route out of poverty but that’s only true if it provides an income that meets the real needs of households.
"Every person working in Scotland deserves an income that keeps them and their households above the rising tide of poverty."
Cosla stated: “We remain in ongoing discussions with our trade union colleagues in relation to pay."
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