The strike among Scotland’s local authorities is set to escalate as Unison have announced that they are to double the numbers of members taking permanent selective action to 2,700. The news comes as the employers side, represented by the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (COSLA), walked out on talks at ACAS aimed at resolving the dispute. CoSLA maintains that there are no more funds available and that further talks will not result in an increased offer. The 6.1 per cent already offered by councils have been accepted by almost two thirds of council employees who belong to the GMB and TGWU. Cosla vice president Pat Watters, said in a statement that as there was no more money: "Councils unanimously endorsed the view that these negotiations were at an end." By Colin Wright
