Scots college and university workers balloted over strike action amid pay row

dailyrecord.co.uk:

Workers at eleven Scots universities are being balloted by Unite over strike action amid a row over pay. It is the first time in Scotland that Unite has simultaneously balloted staff at this number of universities.

The union is sending out ballots to staff at at Aberdeen, Abertay, Dundee, Edinburgh and Glasgow.Caledonian Uni, Glasgow School of Art, Herriot Watt, Napier, St Andrew's and Strathclyde University will take part.

The move, which is part of a UK-wide dispute, will see staff such as cleaners, janitors, estates staff, and technicians asked if they will back industrial action after receiving what Unite insisted was a "completely unacceptable" pay offer.The rise being offered by the the University and College Employers Association (UCEA) would amount to a 3.1% increase for some workers, the union claimed.Sharon Graham, Unite general secretary, insisted: "The pay offer on the table from the UCEA is completely unacceptable at a time when inflation is 12.3%."She added: "No university principal is facing a cost of living crisis but our members certainly are, and this offer which represents a massive pay cut can only make that worse."Ms Graham added that union members would "have our full support in this fight for better jobs, pay and conditions".Alison MacLean, Unite industrial officer, accused the UCEA of having "refused to reopen pay negotiations despite Unite and all trade unions arguing that they must come back to the table".She added: "A number of Scottish universities are also recognising that the offer is so poor they are encouraging a new one to be made to the workforce."It's the first time ever that Unite is simultaneously balloting for strike action across so many Scottish universities but that's a