MINISTERS have called for further negotiations as a major trade union served notice on all 32 Scottish councils that strike ballots are imminent in an escalating dispute over pay.
The Scottish Government which says it has provided a further £100m as part of the 2023/24 budget for councils to support a "meaningful" pay rise for local government workers has urged both union leaders and local authority leaders to get round the table to end the impasse.
The union Unite has warned the Scottish Government that the same mistakes over pay made last year were being repeated - as union members rejected the 5% pay offer for 2023 in a consultative ballot.
Thousands of key council workers within the schools and early years services will now participate in the targeted strike action ballots. This includes janitors, cleaners, caterers, classroom assistants and administrative staff.
Unite members employed by Tayside Contracts who provide catering and janitorial services to schools across Angus, Dundee, Perth and Kinross councils are also included in the ballot.
