Title

PAY

Scottish council workers reject 5% pay offer

Waste service workers will today go on strike across 14 local authority areas in Scotland after trade union Unite rejected a 5% pay offer.

Waste service workers will today go on strike across 14 local authority areas in Scotland after trade union Unite rejected a 5% pay offer.

Unite's local government committee rejected outright the 5% pay offer from the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (COSLA). 

According to the union, for more than half of local government workers, COSLA's offer represents an increase of between £900 and £1,250.

In comparison, in England, council workers have been offered a £1,925 flat rate pay offer.

Unite industrial officer Wendy Dunsmore said: ‘It's a sad indictment that council workers in Scotland are being offered substantially less than their counterparts in England.

‘The offer on the table just doesn't help the lowest paid make ends meet.

‘This dispute will continue to escalate to a point where it could now go beyond the winter, causing months of massive nationwide disruption.'

PAY

EXCLUSIVE: LGA plan hits mid ranks

By Heather Jameson | 15 January 2026

The latest plans to slash the pay for Local Government Association (LGA) staff are unlikely to hit those on the very highest salaries, figures leaked to The ...

PAY

Scottish Budget proposes new council tax bands

By Martin Ford | 13 January 2026

The Scottish Government is proposing the creation of two new council tax bands in an effort to increase funding for local authorities.

PAY

Reed says councils should not be offering 'full-time pay for part-time work'

By Dan Peters | 22 December 2025

Local authorities should not be offering full-time pay for part-time work, communities secretary Steve Reed has told council leaders.

PAY

The next chapter for social care

By Cieran Donnelly | 18 December 2025

Cieran Donnelly reflects on 2025 and prepares for 2026 as the social care sector heads into a dramatic period of change.

Popular articles by William Eichler