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Council unions in one-day strike Council union in one-day strike
(9 minutes later)
Local government unions have called another one-day strike across Scotland in pursuit of their pay claim. A local government union has called another one-day strike across Scotland in pursuit of its pay claim.
The walk-out will take place on Wednesday 24 September. About 100,000 Unison members will walk out on Wednesday 24 September.
The action could be followed by a programme of disruption involving groups of council workers being brought out for up to a week at a time.The action could be followed by a programme of disruption involving groups of council workers being brought out for up to a week at a time.
Last month 150,000 Scottish council workers took one-day strike action. The unions said an offer of a 2.5% pay rise was, in effect, a pay cut. Last month 150,000 members of Unison, Unite and the GMB took one-day strike action. The other unions are yet to decide if they will walk out again.
Talks between local government body Cosla and the three unions involved - Unite, the GMB and Unison - broke down earlier this week. The unions said an offer of a 2.5% pay rise was, in effect, a pay cut.
Talks between local government body Cosla and the three unions broke down earlier this week.
'Clear message'
Union members had hoped Cosla would offer a new one year deal taking inflation into account.Union members had hoped Cosla would offer a new one year deal taking inflation into account.
However, Cosla said increasing the original offer of 2.5% in the current economic climate would result in service and job cuts.However, Cosla said increasing the original offer of 2.5% in the current economic climate would result in service and job cuts.
Dougie Black, Unison Scotland regional officer, said the decision sent a clear message to the employers.
He said: "Your failure to improve your offer despite previous commitments given in public to do so will not be tolerated by our members."
Mr Black added: "Taking further industrial action is regrettable, but now unavoidable. We have no alternative given the employers' behaviour over this."
Cosla spokesman Councillor Michael Cook said: "I am disappointed that the trade unions are actively planning to put Scotland's communities through more unnecessary disruption."Cosla spokesman Councillor Michael Cook said: "I am disappointed that the trade unions are actively planning to put Scotland's communities through more unnecessary disruption."
He said the "financial environment" had changed since the offer was first made in March and he "fully sympathised" with council employees over the pressures they faced.He said the "financial environment" had changed since the offer was first made in March and he "fully sympathised" with council employees over the pressures they faced.
"As has been outlined those pressures also mean huge difficulties for council budgets," he said."As has been outlined those pressures also mean huge difficulties for council budgets," he said.