More than 90% of Stirling Council workers have voted to strike but the walkout may not go ahead, after the local authority’s leader put a new offer on the table.
Trade union Unison balloted its 1,600 members over industrial action when senior managers threatened to slash salaries and make staff work longer. The result of the poll came back with 91.8% in favour of a walkout.
James Douglas, Stirling Council Unison branch secretary, described the figure as “the highest I have seen for industrial action”.
“Unison continued to tell the council management team that their proposals would be unacceptable to staff ,” he said.
“I think the ballot result indicates that the trade union was correct about the strength of feeling of its membership.”
Stirling Council’s Labour- and Conservative-led administration is seeking to make savings of £24 million over the next four years, after Scottish Government cuts.
Senior managers asked the council’s 3,300 workers to accept either a 37-hour week with a 1.5% cut in salaries or a shorter working week of 35 hours or 36 hours with a 2.8% pay cut.
All three options were rejected and Unison began balloting members when talks with council bosses broke down.
Council leader Johanna Boyd later took control of negotiations and proposed a 0.5% cut in wages for some staff, combined with a 37-hour week.
The new package sees plans for a reduction in holiday entitlement and overtime dropped, while some workers will see an increase in their living wage to a minimum of £7.50 per hour.
Councillor Boyd also said she and her colleagues on the administration will take a 1% pay cut “in solidarity” with Stirling Council’s staff.
Unison’s James Douglas welcomed the “substantial changes” but said a fresh ballot for industrial action may still go ahead.
“If the new proposals meet an equality impact assessment and do not breach CoSLA national terms and conditions, then we are prepared to put this to our members for their consideration,” he said.
Labour’s Johanna Boyd insisted her priority is “the protection of public services, which will in turn defend council jobs”.
She said: “Whilst the council recognises the strength of feeling surrounding some of the original proposals concerning changes to terms and conditions of employment, there has been significant progress made since then.
“As the managers and unions were unable to come to an agreement, the administration stepped in to make a fair and reasonable offer which has been acknowledged as a substantial change by the unions.”
She said talks with the union will go on until they reach agreement.
“Informal discussions will continue to find a common resolution to ensure the ongoing financial stability of the council in the face of a 12% funding cut from Scottish Government, which means the council must make savings of £24m over the next four years.”
Mr Douglas said: “I would hope we can now move on and reach a negotiated settlement that is acceptable to our members.”