NICOLA Sturgeon is facing a walkout from her own civil servants after the union representing them said it was ready to vote for strike action.
The union PCS Scotland has told almost 10,000 workers to prepare for strike action over pay and conditions, with letters of challenge to the Government soon to be sent.
It comes in addition to separate strike ballots held by other unions for council workers.
In an email to devolved sector workers, PCS industrial officer Joy Dunn said the union had spent months negotiating with the government but staff still faced a “massive real-terms wage cut” due to rising inflation.
In February, PCS Scotland held a consultative vote which found support for strike action if their 2022 pay demand is ignored.
Mrs Dunn said: “That time is approaching and PCS members across the Scottish sector will need to unite to demand that pay and living standards are protected for you and your families.
“Over the coming weeks, PCS will be holding member meetings and communicating key information about the vote.”
The vote will include civil servants working in all Scottish Government departments, including the main office serving the SNP-Green administration, as well as staff in courts, prisons, museums and galleries.
The most senior government officials are usually members of the individual FDA.
The PCS is demanding a 10 per cent living wage increase, a living wage of £15 an hour, more annual leave and a “significant reduction” in the working week at the same pay.
The Scottish Government’s pay policy for 2022/23 is for a minimum wage of £10.50 an hour and step pay rises worth around 3 per cent at most for the lowest paid.
Those earning £25,000 and under get a £775 cash boost, those earning between £25,000 and £40,000 get a £700 boost and those earning over £40,000 get £500 more.
Although Under Secretary of State John Sweeney announced last week that the Government would give councils an extra £140m to help raise wages and prevent local government strikes, Ms Dunne said Government officials claimed , that “there is no additional money to increase pay beyond the basic elements of the pay policy” for central government employees.
Instead, the government said individual quangos and agencies could use 0.5% of their existing salary budget to change remuneration.
PCS said it would now return to the table with employers to explore how this could work, but did not expect “prolonged discussions”.
Ms Dunne said: “We need to continue to convene talks in the short term to explore all options.
“It should also be noted that due to the nature of UK anti-union legislation, trade dispute letters will soon be sent to employers to ensure we participate in every vote as required.
“PCS and other civil service unions have spent months in negotiations.
“But as things stand now, members are facing a huge pay cut in real terms and living standards have been further eroded during the worst economic crisis since the 1970s.”
Scottish Liberal Democrat MSP Willie Rennie said: “Unless the Scottish Government takes action, key services will be paralyzed.
“Most people understand that workers are facing skyrocketing bills and incredible inflation. The SNP are acting recklessly by provoking workers to go on strike. It is time for them to enter into a sustainable and long-term staff funding agreement.
“The Chancellor of the Exchequer has already suggested that thousands of job cuts could be coming. This is a direct consequence of the SNP’s failure to get the economy growing and generating vital tax revenue.”
A Scottish Government spokesman said: “Scottish Ministers recognize, given the changing economic climate, that public bodies covered by the Public Sector Pay Policy may need to go beyond the flexibility parameters set out in the 2022/23 Pay Policy .
“Ministers expect remuneration that exceeds the parameters of the pay policy to remain sustainable and affordable.
“The civil service workforce is an integral part of our recovery from the pandemic and ministers are calling on all parties to continue dialogue and reach a solution that avoids strike action.”
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