Scotland is bracing itself for a mass walk-out of town hall staff over pay. Up to 200,000 council workers will stage a one-day strike in protest this week, while unions south of border prepare for more negotiations to end their deadlock over pay. Members of Unison, Unite and GMB in Scotland were expected to strike for 24-hours on Wednesday against a below-inflation pay offer of 2.5% for the next three years. Stephanie Herd, chair of Unison's Scottish local government service group, said: ‘Our members do not want to have to take strike action. However, they are angry that the employers want to lock them into 2.5% increases for the next three years, while inflation is way ahead of that already.' Union officials in England are set to meet with the employers on Friday (22) to restart talks over pay. Further industrial action has been suspended while both sides talk of hopes of a ‘new era of employment'. A joint statement from Unison, Unite and the employers said: ‘The partners are committed to immediate, serious and meaningful negotiations over a range of issues… nothing is ruled in or out.'