Month: August 2023

You have delivered the strongest ever UNISON mandate for strike action for an improved pay deal for all local government workers in Scotland. Because of your action, UNISON have a strike mandate in 24 councils in Scotland. The full results are below. While every council ballot in Scotland returned an overwhelming yes to strike vote, trade union laws require a 50% turnout for us to take strike action. UNISON school staff beat the 50% ballot threshold in 24 councils. This is UNISON’s strongest ever strike ballot result in local government in Scotland. What happens next? UNISON Scotland’s local government committee meet on Monday, and we will announce further industrial action in the coming days. UNISON will do all it can to get back around the table with COSLA. We are well aware that you want to be in school working with children – not out on picket lines closing schools. But we are in no doubt of the resolve of UNISON members to take strike action for an improved pay deal for all local government workers. UNISON is the largest representative body of local government workers by far, and we take our responsibility to ensure that all industrial action is legally compliant very seriously – so you are protected if you are on strike. Please look out for further emails and social media or contact your local branch for more information.

Thank you

Thank you to every one of you who voted, and for taking action on behalf of all of local government workers. It is vital that your voice is heard, you have shown the strength of your union.

If you want to see the full scrutineers’ report, please phone UNISON Direct on 0800 0857 857.

Johanna Baxter, UNISON Scotland head of local government

Mark Ferguson, chair of UNISON Scotland’s local government committee

LG Pay – Live Stream

Thursday 17 August at 6pm featuring Christina McAnea

Vote Yes for Strike Action

Council Workers: Rally for Fair Pay! – YouTube

Waste service colleagues in Unison Perth & Kinross and Stirling Unison stand united for fair pay for all local government workers as part of our pay campaign. We are demanding Cosla pays up now, it’s time for a better deal.

Stirling Waste workers picketed over 4 days of industrial action for all local government workers to get Cosla back around the table to offer us a better deal and a fair pay.

The workers from Waste stayed throughout the rain and the occasional bit of sunshine to show support for all employees for a better deal. Around 90 Stirling members attended over their shift  and passers by honked their horns in support of the workers.

Thanks to you the public for your support!

Despite giving COSLA several chances to improve their offer on pay there has been no movement – now we are balloting for industrial action. 

From Mon 31 July members working in schools will start receiving postal ballot papers. 

If you are in the group being balloted, return your ballot paper without delay. It will arrive in a purple envelope. The recommendation is to vote YES. 

🔗https://unison-scotland.org/local-government-pay-23-24/

My name is Lorraine Thomson and like you, I am a UNISON member, and I am employed by Stirling Council as an Early Years educator.

I am also you Branch Secretary and the Chair of UNISON Scotland’s Education Issues Group. I am writing to you as all members that work within a school setting should have received your Local Government pay ballot which is in a blue envelope. If you have not received your ballot, then you need call the ballot helpline on the following number.

Call the ballot helpline on 0800 0 857 857. This Helpline will be open from 8am Mon-Fri and will close at 12 noon on the 20th July 2022.

I want to draw your attention to the following information in this letter as it is important that you are clear on why this ballot is so important, why it is crucial, if you are within the work group being balloted at this time that you ensure you have received your ballot and why you need to return your ballot paper. I also want to further make clear that all members taking strike action will be financially supported by UNISON.

Many services are still recovering and feeling the effects from the pandemic, Holyrood continues to underfund councils, and our employers umbrella body COSLA fail to provide local government workers with an above inflation pay rise during a cost-of-living crisis.

In real terms what you have been offered is effectively a pay cut and not a pay rise, when inflation is considered.

The services provided by council workers make a decent society possible. We are not a drain on our society, but an achievement.

UNISON members deserve a fair pay rise. Our heating costs have gone up. Our food costs have gone up. Our fuel costs have gone up and for many their Mortgages have gone up! I guess what I am trying to say is the cost of everything has gone up, with the exception of our pay.

That is why our members in Waste have voted overwhelmingly to take strike action on behalf of all Council workers on the 10^th, 11^th, 12^th and 13^th August 2023. We are now balloting all members that work in Education within a school. Only Early Years workers that are based within a school/school campus are being balloted. Those that work in a standalone Early Years setting that does not sit within a school campus/setting are not being balloted at this stage.

Your ballot will arrive in the post in a purple envelope,

The ballot will close 25^th August 2023, any received after this date would be invalidated. With your hard-earned annual leave, and school holidays around the corner, this closing date may approach very quickly so please “Don’t Delay – Return Today”

UNISON members working in waste services in Stirling and Perth and
Kinross are on strike for fair pay.
UNISON are balloting school staff across Scotland for strike action. We
recommend you vote YES for strike. But whatever you think Vote!
Your ballot is in a PURPLE envelop.
Despite our efforts COSLA have not improved their April pay offer, which
UNISON members overwhelminglyrejected in a consultative ballot.

COSLA say they don’t have the cash to improve their offer but will not
approach Scottish Government for additional funding.
COSLA want to see if we can beat anti-trade union strike thresholds. We
did it last year and can do it again this year.
If members vote to strike, any action will take place after the summer break
but before the October holidays.

Ballot closes 25th August