​Both sides will now go back to conciliation service

Scotland’s health secretary has intervened in a bid to end a bitter industrial dispute in Scotland’s third sector.

TFN can reveal that Jeane Freeman convened a meeting at the Scottish Parliament this week in an attempt to break the deadlock in a wrangle between trade union Unison and social care provider Cornerstone.

A statement issued by both Cornerstone and Unison read: “At a meeting held on Tuesday 12 March 2019 at the Scottish Parliament, Holyrood, Edinburgh, convened by Ms Jeane Freeman MSP, cabinet secretary for health and sport and Cllr Stuart Currie (Cosla), attended by Edel Harris, chief executive Cornerstone and Mike Kirby, Scottish secretary Unison, both parties agreed to seek the assistance of Acas (Advisory Conciliation and Arbitration Service).”

The two sides have been locked in dispute over how staff are impacted by the implementation of the charity’s strategic plan, as well as a pay claim.

Last December Cornerstone management de-recognised the trade union and disengaged from talks convened by Acas.

Unison applied to a state body called the Central Arbitration Committee in an unprecedented bid to force statutory recognition.

Both sides have said there will be no further statements while negotiations proceed.