SCOTLAND
Scottish Public Servants have been offered a pay rise of at least 4 per cent in what triumphant union officials say is a “clear break from the austerity agenda”.
Workers are being urged to accept the deal, in contrast to the situation south of the border, where the Government at Westminster wants to keep a 1 per cent cap firmly in place.
PS employees throughout the UK have been subject to the 1 per cent cap on annual pay increases since 2012, which followed a two-year pay freeze.
According to the Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS), the value of average pay in the public sector has fallen by up to 9 per cent against inflation over this time.
National Officer for Scotland for the FDA union, which covers most senior PS employees, Allan Sampson said lifting the pay cap was long overdue and represented a first step towards addressing years of pay erosion.
“Our members in the Scottish Government carry out challenging and vital work for the people of Scotland and it is only right they should be rewarded appropriately,” Mr Sampson said.
“This pay offer comes as a result of constructive dialogue between trade unions, Ministers and Scottish Government officials and sets the standard for future engagement.”
National Officer for the PCS, Lynn Henderson said it was a “welcome departure from the years of austerity pay”, but stressed there were challenges still to come.
“Whilst a minimum of 4 per cent is good this year, it doesn’t come close to fixing the damage caused by nearly a decade of pay cuts,” Ms Henderson said.
Edinburgh, 4 May 2018
