Scottish public sector workers coordinate pay strikes

Around 5,000 civil servants in Scotland took one-day strike action on 31 July in protest at the 2% pay limit imposed by the Scottish Executive. The PCS civil service union also began an overtime ban and work-to-rule from 1 August. Meanwhile civil servants in passport offices took three-day strike action over a 2.5% pay offer and in protest at what is seen as a draconian performance management system and a restructuring that could see several major offices close and the loss of 100 jobs in Glasgow. [Read more at > PCS (EN)->http://www.pcs.org.uk/en/news_and_events/news_centre/index.cfm/id

Members of the three main unions representing local government workers in Scotland - UNISON, GMB and Unite - have rejected the employers' 3% pay offer. There were large majorities in each case with also strong support for industrial action. The unions argue that 3% is inadequate after years of pay freezes and the 1% public sector pay cap. The unions will jointly discuss their next steps and the formal process of balloting for industrial action.

UNISON Scotland, the biggest union in local government with around 100,000 members, voted narrowly to accept a two-year pay deal that increases pay by 3% in 2008 and 2.5% in 2009. The union said that it was very disappointed by the pay deal and the narrowness of the vote reflected widespread discontent with the outcome. The pay offer was rejected by two other unions in the sector – the GMB with around 25,000 members and Unite with around 20,000. [Read more at > UNISON Scotland (EN)->http://www.unison-scotland.org.uk/localgovt/pay2008/index.html] [Read more at > GMB (EN)->http://www.gmb.org.uk