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Council pay dispute talks offer Council pay dispute talks offer
(about 1 hour later)
Council bosses have offered to hold fresh talks over the pay dispute which led to a one-day walkout by thousands of local authority workers.Council bosses have offered to hold fresh talks over the pay dispute which led to a one-day walkout by thousands of local authority workers.
An estimated 150,000 council workers staged a one-day strike on Wednesday causing widespread disruption.An estimated 150,000 council workers staged a one-day strike on Wednesday causing widespread disruption.
The biggest of the three unions involved, Unison, said the offer had followed a "successful strike".The biggest of the three unions involved, Unison, said the offer had followed a "successful strike".
Cosla said it had written to the unions on Thursday to invite them to talks as a "matter of urgency".
In a statement, the local government umbrella group Cosla said: "The employers recognised the need to settle the dispute and avoid further unnecessary disruption in services to Scotland's communities."
The unions had described a 2.5% pay offer for each of the next three years as "derisory".The unions had described a 2.5% pay offer for each of the next three years as "derisory".
Unison regional officer Dougie Black said: "We are pleased that Cosla has approached us to reopen talks on this year's pay award, following the successful strike by members of the three unions on Wednesday."Unison regional officer Dougie Black said: "We are pleased that Cosla has approached us to reopen talks on this year's pay award, following the successful strike by members of the three unions on Wednesday."
He said the invitation to the talks addressed some of the "contentious" issues.He said the invitation to the talks addressed some of the "contentious" issues.
He added: "Obviously we want a solution to this dispute, so we hope that discussions around a new offer more acceptable to our members can start quickly." Mr Black added: "Obviously we want a solution to this dispute, so we hope that discussions around a new offer more acceptable to our members can start quickly."
But he said a meeting of union branches had also agreed to maintain the dispute and make preparations for further strike action if talks fail.But he said a meeting of union branches had also agreed to maintain the dispute and make preparations for further strike action if talks fail.
Councillor Michael Cook, chair of the employers side said he was "pleased" that the invitation to talk had been accepted.
He added: "However the threat of further action is not helpful in the context of a joint attempt to reach a solution to the dispute - a solution which is acceptable to both councils and our workforce."