Pay increase announced for council staff
28/11/08
Aberdeen City Council’s Budget Monitoring Board has this afternoon agreed that most council staff are to receive a pay increase of 3% from 1 April 2008 and a further 2.5% from 1 April 2009.
Industrial action took place across Scotland earlier this year as part of a national dispute over pay.
Following negotiations between COSLA and trade unions, local authorities agreed last month to offer a two-year pay deal which would see staff receive 3% in 2008/09 and 2.5% in 2009/10. Unison members accepted the offer after a ballot, but GMB and T&G rejected the pay offer.
It is hoped that staff will receive the increase and backdated pay in their December salaries.
Councillor Kevin Stewart, joint convener of the Budget Monitoring Board, said: "Aberdeen City Council's staff are the authority's most valuable asset and they work very, very hard to provide a high level of service across the board.
"They have waited long enough for this money, and I am delighted that the board unanimously agreed that the staff should get it now, instead of having to wait any longer.
"Hopefully it will mean an even better Christmas for them and their families."
Gordon Edwards, corporate director for resources management added: “We are making every effort to get this money to employees before Christmas. The timescale for processing it is very tight, but we are working hard to get the backdated pay into the December salaries, which staff receive before Christmas.
“We believe our staff deserve to receive this payment as soon as practicable.”
It is hoped that the payment will also help to boost the Aberdeen economy during the festive season.
If you have any queries regarding this, or any other news story, please contact Aberdeen City Council on: 01224 522000.
