Union urges council pay rejection

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Scotland's largest public sector union is to recommend its members reject a new local government pay offer.

Unison will now ballot its members, with a result being declared in early November.

Both the GMB and Unite unions are also to ballot their members after recommending refusal.

Local government umbrella group Cosla said it was "extremely disappointed". It had proposed a 3% pay rise for staff in 2008 and 2.5% next year.

Workers were initially offered a 2.5% rise for each of the next three years.

The dispute led to strikes by council staff in August and September, causing widespread disruption to services.

Further action had been planned, but was suspended following the latest offer from councils.

Speaking on Friday, Unison regional officer Dougie Black said: "It is clear our activists do not accept that this offer is good enough. Our members, like others, are suffering from the effects of the economic downturn."

But Cosla spokesman Councillor Michael Cook warned that councils were under "colossal financial pressure".

He added: "Let me be absolutely clear to the union membership - the present offer is at the absolute limit of what we can afford and if this offer is rejected the whole package is off the table with immediate effect."