Revised offer accepted after Scottish government joins council pay and finance talks, says UNISON

Revised offer accepted after Scottish government joins council pay and finance talks, says UNISON

Local government staff across Scotland have voted to accept a revised offer from council employers, concluding this year’s pay negotiations, says UNISON

The deal paves the way for talks for 2025/26 on wage rises, a reduced working week and council finances.

It follows a disappointing initial pay offer from employers’ body Cosla for this year, which led to two weeks of strikes by school and early years staff across Perth & Kinross.

Following the action in first minister John Swinney’s constituency, UNISON secured a commitment from the Scottish government that it would attend early discussions about council pay and resources between unions and the employers in future.

Until now, the lack of Scottish government input at early talks has hindered unions and employers from concluding credible pay deals swiftly, says UNISON.

UNISON Scotland’s local government committee chair Colette Hunter said: “Workers’ resolve and action have secured a route to what they hope will be a decent pay deal that will be in people’s pockets from April 2025.

“The Scottish government will now be in the room with unions and Cosla when discussions about next year’s wage rise begin. This will include a minimum pay rate of £15 an hour, a reduction in the working week, and the perilous state of council finances.

“Council staff have shown they will take a stand on pay. That is crucial in protecting public services.”