Representatives of the majority of branches with members affected by Scottish Ministers pay policy met in Edinburgh to consider options for a Prospect Scottish pay campaign, to run in parallel with the unions UK civil service campaign and a similar campaign in Wales.

With the continuation of a pay freeze in Scotland, representatives heard a full report from Dai Hudd, Deputy General Secretary about the plans that are being put in place by Prospect to mount a campaign calling for fairness for civil service pay both in the short term and in the years ahead.

Representatives were provided with a report which based on external evidence, dismissed the myths that have been spread about civil service pay, and considered the facts that demonstrate the civil service pay has fallen behind the market still further over recent years.

A copy of this report will be available for all members later this week. Representative agreed to present a common claim in all bargaining areas covered by Scottish Ministers pay policy, which calls, as a minimum for increases in pay, to cover the higher pension contributions brought in by the government without consultation or agreement.

They also made it clear that long term reductions in terms and conditions of service were not to be traded for a short term, i.e. a one year extension to the no compulsory redundancy agreement in Scotland.

A copy of the full model claim will be included in the briefing referred to above.