Almost a third of Stirling Council workers have agreed to take a pay cut as negotiations continue over cost-cutting measures.
The local authority wants to reduce the salary of some staff by 0.5% in a change to terms and conditions of employment, expected to be implemented in November.
The council confirmed that 949 of 3,089 workers have agreed to the wages reduction but union members are still considering taking industrial action.
After every employee was canvassed by email, 969 responded. It is understood a Unison representative has told the council leader Johanna Boyd that 275 members will work to ruleand refuse to take on overtime from August 24.
Stirling Council chief executive Bob Jack said: “Protecting services to the public remains our priority, despite the Scottish Government cutting the council’s funding by 12%, meaning we must make savings of £24m over this year and the next three years.
“This is why we are proposing changes to employment terms, so we can reduce costs without affecting services.”
Mr Jack added: “The council has done all it can to protect services and minimise the impact of these changes for the workforce, who do so much to deliver services for the people of Stirling.
“I am pleased that a growing number of our employees are indicating that they recognise the need for change. Hopefully, more will join their colleagues over the coming weeks so we can bring these changes in on time.”
Mr Boyd has led negotiations with the union, which saw a revised offer put on the table after an earlier package was rejected following a ballot.
The council leader said: “The original union ballots for industrial action were taken on an earlier set of proposals and a substantially improved offer has been made since then, following intervention by the administration.
“This will mean no reduction in annual leave and no reduction in overtime rates. The current position is the culmination of work that has been ongoing for a number of years under administrations of all parties.”
Unison’s Stirling Council branch secretary James Douglas has urged members to reject the council’s revised offer.
In a post on the union’s website, he said: “Unison reiterates the advice to ignore Bob Jack’s ‘invite’ to sign up to work longer for less money don’t even RSVP.”
“By ignoring Bob Jack’s request to voluntary sign up, working longer for less, members have nothing to lose and a lot to gain. Unison would strongly advise members to put this request where it belongs, in the bin.”
Mr Jack hopes talks between union leaders and the local authority will resume.
“Our door remains open to the unions and we very much hope an amicable solution can be found,” he added.
Unison members will gather at Albert Halls for two meetings, the first at 12.30pm and the second at 5.30pm.