Title

HUMAN RESOURCES

Unison warns of looming strike as it awaits pay offer

Scotland’s largest local government union has warned strike preparations could begin next week amid growing tensions over pay.

Scotland's largest local government union has warned strike preparations could begin next week amid growing tensions over pay.

Unison, along with Unite, submitted the 2024-25 pay claim for local government workers in January but the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (COSLA) has yet to respond.

The unions had urged council bosses to reply as close to the 1 April implementation date as possible.

Unison Scotland's local government chair Colette Hunter said: ‘It would appear that COSLA has learned nothing from last year's pay dispute.

‘The last thing anyone wants to do is take strike action, but if COSLA continues to ignore our pay claim then we may be left with no choice.'

COSLA said council leaders would meet on Friday to consider the claim.

Unison and Unite have called for an above-inflation increase for staff on the lowest pay as part of their aim for all local government workers to receive at least £15 an hour by April 2026.

The unions also asked for a pay rise of 7% or £1.60 an hour - whichever is greater.

HUMAN RESOURCES

EXCLUSIVE: LGA moves closer to strategic authority offer

By Paul Marinko | 11 June 2026

The Local Government Association (LGA) is getting closer to making a membership offer to strategic authorities as Bury MBC’s leader prepares to take over as ...

HUMAN RESOURCES

Lessons from Swansea: A collaborative approach to addressing poverty stigma

By Amanda Hill-Dixon | 11 June 2026

Amanda Hill-Dixon sets out evidence-informed actions for councils to reduce poverty stigma through universal services, dignified support, inclusive communica...

HUMAN RESOURCES

EXCLUSIVE: Chiefs lobby Government over severance payment threshold

By Dan Peters | 10 June 2026

Council chiefs have been lobbying the Government to relax the requirements around special severance payments when they publish guidance on reorganisation sta...

HUMAN RESOURCES

Managing the mission to beef up growth

By Ann McGauran | 10 June 2026

The National Wealth Fund has significantly broadened its remit. Through its regional project accelerator programme, it aims to unlock more than £100bn of inv...

Popular articles by Ellie Ames