ONE of the country’s biggest trade unions has warned that strikes are likely over a pay offer to local government staff.

GMB, which represents 30,000 members employed across all thirty-two local authorities, is currently running a consultative ballot over the 2018/19 local government pay offer with a clear recommendation to reject.

As it stands, the offer put forward to local government trade unions by leaders at the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (COSLA) proposes:

· A 3 per cent pay increase will apply to all employees earning up to £36,500.

· A 2 per cent pay increase will apply to all employees earning £36,501- £80,000.

· A flat rate increase of £1,600 to employees earning more than £80,000.

This would mean the Chief Executive of North Ayrshire Council, Elma Murray, who received a total remuneration package of over £144,000 last year, would get a pay increase worth around eight times more than a local full-time cleaner.

GMB Scotland Senior Organiser Drew Duffy said: “We cannot and will not recommend an offer that increases the pay of senior managers by £1,600 a year while front-line staff in services like care, cleaning and refuse receive as little as £250 to £600.”

A North Ayrshire Council spokesperson said: “COSLA negotiate on behalf of Councils to provide a fair and equitable pay agreement for employees working within local authorities across Scotland.”