Scotland’s largest trade union has voted to accept the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities' pay offer in a ballot of all local government workers across Scotland.
On a 64% turnout, 67% of Unison members voted to accept the deal from COSLA, which will provide £1,900 extra for staff earning less than £39,000 a year.
All three unions representing local government workers in Scotland have now accepted the pay deal following a dispute which saw a wave of industrial action across the country during the summer.
Deputy First Minister John Swinney said: “I am very pleased that trade unions members have accepted this pay offer which will deliver a substantial pay rise for local government workers in key roles across Scotland.
“We have worked collaboratively and held detailed discussions with COSLA and trades unions to get to this point.
“We are doing everything possible within the resources available to support the people of Scotland in the face of the cost-of-living crisis.”
Unison officials say the improved pay offer was made due to members taking, and being prepared to take, industrial action.
Unison Scotland head of local government Johanna Baxter said: “Unison members have spoken and voted overwhelmingly to accept the improved pay offer and we will now press COSLA to get this money into members’ pay packets as quickly as possible.
“But let’s be very clear - it was only because Unison members took, and were prepared to take, industrial action that this improved pay offer was even made - if they hadn’t stood up to their employer they would have been forced to accept a derisory 2% increase.
“It was their collective strength that forced the Scottish Government to accept they had a role to play and come up with more money but it should never have got to that.”
The union has said the Scottish Government must fund local government and the workers serving local communities properly.
Baxter added: “Unison will continue to lead the campaign for investment in councils and for staff to get the pay, reward and recognition they deserve.”
Mark Ferguson, chairman of the Unison local government committee, said: “I want to thank all council workers, particularly those who took industrial action. Without your commitment we would never have secured this deal.
“I am pleased we have secured this pay rise, but let’s not pretend it will be the only thing that protect council workers against the cost-of-living crisis – we have much more work to do and we are already running our next campaign for improved council services and better pay and conditions for all council workers.”
Meanwhile, members of Unite have also voted to accept a pay deal for local council staff in Scotland.
The new offer, which will provide £1,900 extra for staff earning less than £39,000 per year, was approved by 70% of members.
Waste workers in Edinburgh walked out at the height of the festival season, while colleagues in other areas later also downed tools.
A deal with COSLA - brokered by marathon talks involving First Minister Nicola Sturgeon - later resulted in further strikes, and action proposed by non-teaching education staff, to be suspended.
The GMB union accepted the deal earlier this week.
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Unite’s members have voted to accept a pay offer that will help them make ends meet during this cost-of-living crisis.
“Our members led from the front and throughout in this nationwide dispute, which started during the Edinburgh Fringe and then spread across Scotland.
“The package will deliver better jobs, terms and conditions for our members in local government, and they should be congratulated for the brave stand they took.”
But the union also hit out at the Scottish Government, saying it “will not tolerate” proposed cuts of £500m as a result of the pay deals.
Deputy First Minister John Swinney - currently in control of Scotland’s finances - made the announcement last month, earmarking savings including £53m from employability services and £37.6m, from lower than forecast uptake of concessionary travel.
Wendy Dunsmore, the union’s lead negotiator for local government, said: “The Scottish Government are already shamefully threatening to make £500m of cuts to public services, which we will not tolerate.
“The robbing Peter to pay Paul narrative being spun by government ministers that decent pay rises only come with another service in the public sector being slashed is dangerous and it will be fought inch by inch by Unite.”
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