STUC’s public sector pay reaction following meeting between unions and Finance Cabinet Secretary Kate Forbes

December 1st 2020

STUC’s public sector pay reaction following meeting between unions and Finance Cabinet Secretary Kate Forbes

December 1st 2020

STUC’s public sector pay reaction following meeting between unions and Finance Secretary Kate Forbes

Following budget discussions with the Scottish Government today the STUC has broadly welcomed yesterday’s announcements by Kate Forbes MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Finance, on public sector pay in which she repeated the Scottish Government’s commitment to providing public sector workers a pay increase in addition to a one off bonus of £500 for selected public sector workers. The STUC however expressed disappointment that many key workers have been excluded from the bonus.

After the meeting, Roz Foyer, STUC General Secretary, commented

“Whilst a £500 bonus is a welcome, if token, show of appreciation by the Scottish Government for NHS and adult-care workers it unfortunately excludes many public sector workers who we have all relied on, as covid has hit our communities and workplaces. We would urge the Scottish Government to extend this bonus to all key workers who have stepped up including our those who clean and cater in our schools and care home, our refuse collectors and school and civil servants administering benefits to some of the poorest in Scotland.

“Longer term a cash bonus does not help with the structural issues in the public sector where inequality of pay and low wages dominate in some areas. We welcome the Scottish Government’s commitment to providing a public sector pay increase. We recognise that to make a real impact for key workers and to revitalise our economy as we move beyond covid, key workers need and deserve a pay rise to put money in their pockets now, and on their pensions for the future. This will be one of our key campaign priorities over coming weeks”

ENDS