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: Ex-minister gets role on strategic authority improvement board

By Emily Twinch | 30 June 2025

Former Tory minister Dame Amanda Milling is expected to be appointed to a new board tasked with helping ‘reset’ troubled Tees Valley combined authority, The ...

HUMAN RESOURCES

Legal warning over Reform's pension plans

By Dan Peters | 26 June 2025

A legal expert has warned Reform UK councils will not be able to slash local authority pensions.

HUMAN RESOURCES

Council warns Government plan would force £95m savings

By Dan Peters | 26 June 2025

Croydon LBC would have to deliver the ‘highest level of service cuts made by one council in one year in the country’ under Government plans, the council has ...

HUMAN RESOURCES

Forging the future

By Martin Ford | 25 June 2025

With the sector in crisis and the need for radical change, fundamental questions are being asked about what local government is for. Martin Ford reports.

Popular articles by Ellie Ames