The FDA has received a pay offer from the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service to settle the long-running ‘Equal value, equal worth’ campaign for pay parity with the Scottish Government.

If the offer is agreed by FDA members, COPFS will undertake work over the next three years to ensure pay rates for COPFS staff reflect those for comparable roles in the Scottish Government, with the necessary funding to support this.

The offer came ahead of a planned ballot on industrial action, which had been scheduled for this month. FDA members in COPFS had indicated overwhelmingly in a ballot late last year that they would have supported strike action over pay parity.

The FDA’s National Officer for Scotland, Allan Sampson welcomed the offer, which makes a financial commitment to pay parity for the future, as well as pay rises for staff now, a key demand of the ‘Equal value, equal worth’ campaign.

Speaking to the Herald, Sampson said: “The unfair gap between the pay of prosecutors and other lawyers in the public sector creates risks in relation to recruitment, retention and, ultimately, the administration of justice in Scotland.

“This offer, subject to the agreement of our members, will avert the need for very damaging industrial action. As well as delivering a pay rise to COPFS staff now, it also commits to pay parity for the future, a key demand of our campaign.

“There remains much work to do, but with the funding and agreement in place, the FDA looks forward to working with COPFS to confirm a pay system which is fit for purpose, appropriately rewarding all staff.”

The FDA will be balloting its members in COPFS on acceptance of the offer shortly.