Hundreds of council workers could have to “cancel Christmas” because of bosses won’t release backdate pay until 2022, their union has warned.

West Dunbartonshire Council (WDC) has confirmed they cannot process the backdated pay due in December to workers because of late agreement decision made by trade unions.

Unite and GMB approved the pay offer from the Scottish Government and local authorities body COSLA early in November whereas Unison only accepted the offer last week.

Local authorities agreed to apply the pay in December - which would see a backdated bump of £1,062 for the lowest paid workers.

But West Dunbartonshire said it couldn’t process the bonus in time.

GMB Convener for West Dunbartonshire David Scott told the Post: “The council have advised that backdated pay won’t be paid in December leaving thousands of low paid workers with no money for Christmas with many of them relying on this money.

“Some low paid workers have advised that they have had to take out loans to put food on their table and to heat their homes.

“Christmas this year is officially cancelled for thousands of low-paid workers who have kept services going through the current pandemic. Senior managers should hang their heads in shame at how they have treated their workers.

“It is absolutely tragic that one local authority cannot pay out this payment despite larger authorities like Edinburgh who can successfully manage it.

“I have had members call up in tears worried about how they will survive during the upcoming period. It really makes you question senior members of the council.”

It is understood that monthly paid workers will not be paid until January 2022 and four weekly paid workers won’t be until February 2022.

Community Party Councillor Jim Bollan told the Post: “This is completely unacceptable in the run-up to the holiday period. We have the data and the technology required to make emergency payments to our staff many of whom are low paid women who are on the front line and have worked tirelessly for our vulnerable citizens before and during Covid-19.”

Clydebank MSP Marie McNair said she sympathised with workers, especially in the run up to Christmas.

She said: “I understand that this is due to the late acceptance of the proposed pay deal by one of the unions which delayed the process but hope that it can be resolved quickly.

“I have written to the chief executive asking that this decision be reviewed as a matter of urgency and hope that in the season of goodwill this will be possible.”

West Dunbartonshire Council said backdated payments were unable to be made to due the “complexity” of the task.

A spokesperson said: “Work to implement the pay deal began immediately following agreement from trade unions a week ago and we are continuing work to process this as early as possible.

“This is a significant and complex piece of work which requires calculation of arrears across two tax years, multiple percentage increases related to spinal points, the different percentage increases being applicable for various periods of time per individual, and a high degree of accuracy.”

Council leader Jonathan McColl, pictured, added: “Given how tight timescales were going to be, we were very clear to trade unions, and trades unions accepted, that unless everything moved very quickly, it would be impossible to make back payments before the new year.

“I know this will be disappointing for staff, but trade unions could not be expected to take shortcuts on an issue as important as this and I fully support them in following their processes to properly represent their members