Trade unions in Scotland have formally rejected employers' pay offer of an £800 lower-rate pay rise for 2021, dismissing the sum as an unacceptably poor response to staff efforts during COVID-19.

In a statement issued just before the Easter break, the Joint Trade Unions body said the offer from the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (Cosla) fell well short of the £2,000 flat rate (or 6% increase) staff bodies had demanded. The three main unions – Unison, GMB and Unite – will now ballot their members to take action to secure an improved offer.