Denney and Henderson emphasised the need to continue to pay progression increases to members in addition to a cost of living increase, and sought a reassurance that the no compulsory redundancy guarantee would be extended into the next Scottish Parliament running until 2021. They also reminded Swinney that he himself had accepted in 2013 that pay constraints could not last forever and pushed for action to be taken by the Scottish Government to deliver on that point. The fact that more than £4.2 million pounds was being spent on recruitment and retention payments in the wider administration supports Prospect’s argument that SG pay systems, some of which are nearly 20 years old, must be reviewed and realistic increases in pay scales delivered. Flexibility in the pay policy is essential if work is to start on modernising the systems. Prospect called on Swinney to make it an objective of the Scottish Government early in its next tenure, should they be the next government, to lift the existing pay constraints.

Denney and Henderson reminded the Minister that the £21,000 threshold for additional increases had been fixed for a number of years and that many junior staff were now on the wrong side of the barrier. Prospect called for an increase in both the limit and the size of the minimum pay uplift.

In response the Minister indicated that he had concerns with the UK Government position, specifically the dogma that had led to the setting of a 1% cap in each of the next 4 years. However, he felt that 2016 would be a very difficult year financially but that there would be less pressure thereafter. He was not impervious to the issues raised and was aware that staff are leaving SG because of the levels of pay on offer. Although he did not commit to an official position at the meeting it seemed as if a short term policy would emerge in the budget after next year’s Scottish elections with opportunities to develop the matter further.

It also seemed that he had taken note of Prospect’s concerns about pay systems and that we might see a policy directive instructing employers to commence the process.

In conclusion the Minister indicated that he would welcome a further meeting with Prospect and the other civil service unions around the time that the pay policy is to be published.