A bitter public-sector pay row looked closer to an end yesterday after Unison voted to accept an offer from the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities.
A bitter public-sector pay row looked closer to an end yesterday after Unison voted to accept an offer from the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities.
However, members of Unite - one of three unions involved in the row - rejected the deal, saying they were disappointed with the way their employers were handling the situation.
The dispute led to a series of public-sector strikes earlier this year, with schools and services disrupted across Scotland.
Last night council bosses were awaiting the outcome of union ballots on their latest offer - a 3% increase this year and 2.5% in 2009.
Unison, which represents around half of the 200,000 workers who took part in the industrial action, described the deal as "poor" and noted it was "significantly below the present rate of inflation".
Following the ballot, regional organiser Dougie Black said: "This offer is not good but circumstances have led to our members drawing this dispute to a close. They have made a pragmatic decision based on the perilous state of local government finance, the unsettled wider economy and the fact that Christmas is almost upon us."
The decision was welcomed by Cosla leaders. Human resources spokesman councillor Michael Cook said: "Obviously, I'm pleased with this result. As employers we made the best offer we could in all the circumstances, and I'm pleased that Unison members have recognised that. This is good news for our workforce and our communities."
Public employers have yet to win over members of Unite, and the GMB will not know the results of their ballot until the end of this week.
Jimmy Farrelly, a senior organiser at Unite, said: "We rejected the offer with a majority of almost 60% to 40%. It was a very high turnout - people certainly aren't happy with the two year offer.
"We've been entirely responsible in the way we've gone about this. It saddens me to hear employers using phrases like local authority workers have to be realistic', because we are being realistic and we have been disappointed to see that no solution has been reached yet.
"The Scottish Government also have a responsibility, and they should step in and make sure that the funds are there," he added. Unite is expected to meet representatives of Cosla later this month and further strikes remain a possibility.
Industrial action is also set to hamper operations at Scottish Water after Unison members rejected a below-inflation pay offer.
A ballot of 1100 Scottish Water workers delivered a 65% majority for strike action in response to a pay rise of 2.4% over 12 months. The nature of the action is yet to be finalised.
Steve Scott, branch secretary of Unison's Scottish Water branch, said: "Our members are not the cause of inflation, they are the victims of it. Scottish Water is a highly successful public corporation and can afford to pay more."
Scottish Water said it would work to ensure normal service for customers, whatever the outcome of the negotiations.
Chris Wallace, director of communications, said: "We do not believe that industrial action, which is supported by only a minority of our employees, is the right course of action for the future success of Scottish Water. 40% of Unison's Scottish Water membership voted in favour of strike action, and this represents only 12% of our workforce."
