Trade union members from the Unison union are planning a protest outside John Swinney’s office to advocate for fair pay for council workers. This protest is set to take place in Blairgowrie, Perthshire, as part of the ongoing dispute over council workers’ pay.
The Unison members in the Perth and Kinross area have been on strike for two weeks, leading to the closure of several schools and partial openings of others. Despite this, two other unions, Unite and GMB Scotland, have accepted the pay deal proposed by local government leaders at Cosla. This deal offers workers a 3.6% increase or a 67p per hour raise, depending on which is higher, and has now been imposed on workers.
John Swinney has expressed his disapproval of the protest targeting his constituency, calling it “utterly unacceptable.” With non-teaching school staff participating in the protest, Swinney has acknowledged the disruption to education in his constituency.
However, Unison Perth and Kinross branch secretary Stuart Hope believes that Swinney can end the dispute by allocating more funds for councils to support workers’ pay, despite Swinney’s statement that there is no additional money available. Hope emphasized the importance of valuing and treating staff equally to other public sector workers.
Finance and Local Government Secretary Shona Robison highlighted the efforts made by the government to reach a fair pay deal, which includes a 5.63% pay increase for the lowest-paid council workers, including Unison members. Robison urged Unison members to accept the deal and end the strikes to avoid further disruption to children and young people attending schools and nurseries in Perth and Kinross.
The ongoing dispute between council workers and local government leaders continues to impact the community, with concerns raised about the disruption caused by the strikes. It remains to be seen how the protest outside John Swinney’s office will influence the resolution of the pay dispute and the future of council workers’ salaries. The importance of fair compensation and respect for workers’ rights is at the forefront of this issue, with both sides advocating for a resolution that benefits all parties involved.