Enable Scotland staff to vote on strike action

Finance | Gareth Jones | 3 Mar 2009

Union members at learning disabilities charity Enable Scotland are to be balloted on strike action after rejecting a pay offer by 2 to 1.

Lowest paid staff were offered a £300 rise plus a £100 non-consolidated payment, the next grade a 2 per cent increase with a £50 payment, and the remaining staff just 1.5 per cent extra.

Unison had been calling for a 5 per cent or £1,000 rise, whichever is greater for that member of staff, an extra day’s holiday and an end to a system which pays people differently for doing the same job.

Simon Macfarlane (pictured), regional organiser for the trade union Unison, said he was recommending that members vote ‘yes’ to taking action.

“Our members are sick of receiving below-inflation pay settlements from Enable and have clearly voted to reject this poor offer. These staff cannot continue to subsidise vital care and support to some of the most vulnerable in our community by poverty wages.

“It is clear from its overwhelming rejection that there is a level of anger and frustration amongst our members, even at a time of economic uncertainty.

“Our members don’t want to take action that will impact on people with learning disabilities, but they will if Enable force them into it.”

MacFarlane confirmed that the ballot is consultative, to gauge whether staff wish to proceed to a formal strike proceedings, adding that this was to allow Enable "one more chance" to return to negotiations.

The ballot closes on 20 March.

Charity blames local authority settlement

In a statement, Enable said the pay offer was made taking into account levels of funding from local authorities.

“We have made what we believe to be a more than fair settlement offer that equates to 3 per cent for the lowest paid members of staff, 2 per cent to others and 1.5 per cent to our highest paid members of staff.

“A large majority of our staff work in services funded by local authorities and this offer represents more than we received from them.”

Unison will also be lobbying the Scottish Parliament for “fair funding for the sector” on 17 March.

Who's Who: Gareth Jones

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