"It's normal for the civil service unions to meet with the Finance Secretary in the run up to the Scottish Budget" explained Prospect National Secretary for Scotland Richard Hardy. This year was no different, and just as in previous years Prospect condemned austerity pay awards and the erosion of members living standards. In particular Prospect pressed the Cabinet Secretary to honour the commitments made by the Scottish Government throughout 2017 both to end the public sector pay cap, and to ensure that pay awards for Prospect members reflected increases in their living costs

"We've worked positively with Mr McKay previously to solve issues, including the positive steps taken this year to bring forward pay dates, and put money in peoples pockets. We recognise that there are clear differences between the Holyrood approach to our members and that taken by Westminster" continued Hardy "but it's important that the Cabinet Secretary understands the strength of feeling amongst members, and reflects upon that as he works up his Budget"

Whilst no guarantees were given the Cabinet Secretary re-iterated the Governments position that the pay cap will be lifted and that there is likely to be significant differentiation between what the Scottish Government will seek to table for civil and public servants and what may be tabled by Westminster

The draft Budget is expected to be presented to Parliament on December 14th and Prospect will continue to campaign and lobby for a fair pay settlement both before and after it's publication