The Public and Commercial Services union is calling for more funding for public services outside the Scottish Parliament today to coincide with the Budget at Holyrood.
The demo in central Edinburgh will call for a Budget from the Scottish Government that best serves the interests of the people of Scotland. The budget is expected to include new proposals on public sector pay rate, which will diverge from the previous policy of capping pay rises at 1% as per the Westminster budget.
The rally comes just weeks after the PCS balloted its members to take action over pay – in which 79.2% of PCS members said they would be prepared to take action on the issue of pay.
PCS national office Lynn Henderson said:
Our ballot result sent a clear message that PCS members are demanding a pay rise this year. In recent statements to both our union and the media, Derek MacKay has really raised workers’ expectations. If those expectations are not met, then the discontent amongst the government’s own workforce will only grow.
Providing real funding for public services is within the government’s power and we’d like to see that presented today. The people who make Scotland’s public services work should be paid a decent wage for the jobs they do.
When workers stand together, we can really influence decisions, that’s why PCS will be at today’s rally. There is real opportunity for the Scottish Government to deliver justice on budget pay, it will be a true test of how much the Scottish Government values public services.
The demonstration outside Holyrood will begin at noon today (Thursday 14 December) and will see addresses by speakers form across the public service. All members of the Scottish Parliament have also been invited to attend.
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