Aberdeen City Council committee backs pay delay plan

A protest was held at held at Aberdeen's town house

A plan to withhold part of an annual salary rise this year for staff at Aberdeen City Council has been backed.

A consultation with staff and unions has been ongoing for the past three months, and officials have recommended withholding the incremental rise.

Members of the finance committee voted 10 to four in favour, but it was deferred to the full council on 30 June.

The local authority is looking at ways of saving £4.5m.

The afternoon meeting followed a lunchtime union protest at the town house.

The plan is to withhold incremental pay increases from workers.

This is separate from the annual pay increase for the majority of council staff, which has still to be agreed between the local authority umbrella body Cosla and trade unions.

Incrementals work by pushing workers further up the salary band for their job every year as they become more experienced.

Possible action

However, some union officials argue that the ceiling on the band ought to be considered the going rate for the job.

About 6,000 staff at Aberdeen City Council would have expected to receive an incremental rise.

Due to what has has been described as abnormal financial pressures, officials have recommended the payment be scrapped this year to help save the authority money.

Council leader John Stewart said unions had to understand the budget pressures being felt across the public sector.

However, unions have warned they would consider both legal and industrial action.