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Warning council staff could strike again within weeks

Local government workers in Scotland could be back on strike within weeks, trade unions have warned.

Local government workers in Scotland could be back on strike within weeks, trade unions have warned.

UNISON, Unite and GMB have said there is confusion over some of the offered elements and staff are yet to receive the agreed pay increase in their pay packets.

The unions suspended strike action following the new pay offer made by COSLA on 2nd September. However, some elements of the deal such as extra days leave and the payment of payment of SSSC registration fees have only been offered for a year and not in perpetuity.

The unions have written to COSLA warning strike mandates remain live and they will lift the strike suspensions if a resolution is not made quickly.

Johanna Baxter, UNISON Scotland head of local government said: 'This is appalling behaviour – either the employer did not even understand the offer they themselves were making or they did and are now trying to renegue on it before its even been implemented. Either way it will be our members that suffer if they are allowed to get away with it.

'We have made clear to the employer and the Scottish Government that our strike mandates remain live and all three trade unions are under increasing pressure from members, who are rapidly losing faith in their employer, to lift the strike suspensions if a resolution and call members out if a resolution is not achieved quickly.'

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